Game Recap | Power surge

Toledo and Louisville played Game 1 of the final series of the season tonight, where the Hens pulled ahead late to take a 5-3 victory.

Toledo got the offense started in the bottom of the 1st. Trei Cruz led things off with a single on a ground ball to center field before advancing into scoring position on a balk by the Louisville pitcher. With one out, Max Anderson singled on a line drive up the middle, allowing Cruz to score easily and giving the Hens an early 1-0 lead.

The Bats answered in the following half inning. Michael Chavis sent a solo home run over the wall to tie the game at 1-1.

Louisville gained the lead in the top of the 3rd with a productive inning. Dominic Pitelli started things with an infield single to second before advancing on a sacrifice bunt from Edwin Arroyo. Orlando Arcia then brought Pitelli home with a double into left field, putting the Bats ahead 2-1.

Louisville added another run in the 5th. Arcia singled on a fly ball into left field, and Dominic Fletcher followed with a liner into right field to put runners on second and third. Noelvi Marte brought one home with a sacrifice fly to right, extending the Bats’ lead to 3-1.

The Hens had gone quiet offensively until the bottom of the 7th, when the bats came alive in a big way. Corey Julks started the power surge with a home run over the center-field wall. James Outman followed with a back-to-back blast to right field that left the yard in a hurry. After a batter came to the plate between the two, Seby Zavala launched the third home run of the inning, sending it over the center-field wall and giving Toledo back the lead at 4-3.

Toledo added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th. Jace Jung reached on an infield ground ball to third before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Julks moved him to third with a flyout, and Zavala brought Jung home with a ground ball into left field, extending the Hens’ lead to 5-3.

The score remained there for the rest of the night as Toledo’s pitching staff protected the late lead. After starting pitcher River Ryan allowed two runs, Carl Edwards Jr. came in as relief and worked 5.1 innings. During his time on the mound, Edwards Jr. struck out nine and allowed just one run. Tyler Mattison then came in to close things out in the 9th, keeping the Bats off the board and securing the 5-3 victory.

Toledo took Game 1 of the final series of the season, 5-3, while also hosting the final Hens & Hounds Night at the ballpark. The Hens and Bats will be back tomorrow night for Game 2, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

Notables:

Carl Edwards Jr.

W, 5.1 IP (7 H, 1 ER, 9 SO)

Seby Zavala

3-4 (HR, 2 RBI, R)