Five-Run Fifth Pushes Dash Past Bowling Green

The Bowling Green Hot Rods (76-43) erased a three-run deficit in the fifth inning, but the Winston-Salem Dash (67-53) had an emphatic answer.

Winston-Salem erupted for five runs in the bottom half of the fifth and never looked back, defeating Bowling Green 8-3 on Tuesday night at Truist Stadium.

The Dash jumped in front from the start.

Javier Mogollon singled in the first before Kyle Lodise walked and stole second. George Wolkow followed with a two-run double to right field, plating both runners and handing Winston-Salem a 2-0 advantage.

An inning later, Nick McLain added to the lead with a solo home run to right-center field, stretching the margin to three.

Meanwhile, Drew McDaniel kept Bowling Green off the board. The right-hander worked four scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out six.

The Hot Rods finally broke through in the fifth.

After consecutive hits opened the frame, Jhon Diaz launched a three-run home run to left field, quickly wiping away Winston-Salem's lead and tying the game at 3-3.

The tie did not last long.

Lodise opened the bottom half by crushing the first pitch he saw over the wall in left-center field, immediately putting the Dash back in front.

From there, Winston-Salem piled on.

Jeral Perez reached on an error, and Kaleb Freeman singled before McLain doubled home Perez. After Jackson Appel walked to load the bases, Ely Brown delivered a two-run single to center. Mogollon followed with an RBI single of his own, completing the five-run frame and giving the Dash an 8-3 advantage.

Bowling Green never threatened again.

Jesus Mendez tossed two perfect innings with three strikeouts before Drew Conover and Landen Payne combined to shut out the Hot Rods over the final two frames.

Winston-Salem finished with 14 hits, led by four from Mogollon. McLain homered, doubled, and drove in two, while Wolkow added a two-run double as the Dash opened the series with an 8-3 victory.