Bats Clutch Hitting Makes History In Walk-Off Win Over Omaha

The Louisville Bats held off a late offensive surge by the Omaha Storm Chasers, and stormed back in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, where they would eventually walk off with a 6-5 victory at Louisville Slugger Field on Saturday afternoon.

Julian Aguiar got the starting nod today for the Bats, as he would battle Omaha’s Luinder Avila. The right hander for Louisville made his first start since September 2024 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Avila also made his season debut for the Storm Chasers.

Aguiar started out hot, as the first four outs of the game for Louisville came by way of strikeout. The Bats continued their early offense from Opening Night, as Blake Dunn doubled to start the game. A bunt single to move Dunn to third by Hector Rodriguez would set up an RBI single by Rece Hinds to put Louisville in front 1-0. Aguiar gained more offensive help in the bottom of the third with Hector Rodriguez scoring from a double-play hit by Michael Chavis.

With the Bats seeing shades of Opening Night early, Pat Kelly relied on his bullpen to work out of another jam in the top of the fourth. After a leadoff double by Brandon Drury and a walk worked by Gavin Cross, the Bats turned to six-year pro Sam Benschoter. The right hander would get out of the inning giving up no runs and preserving the Louisville lead. Julian Aguiar finished his day with a line of 3.2 innings pitched, 2 hits, 2 walks and no earned runs.

Omaha would show signs of life in the fifth, as a three-hit inning would result in the Storm Chasers tying up the ballgame. A double by Josh Rojas and a single by Abraham Toro would drive in a pair of runs. Louisville called on Lyon Richardson to shut the door on Omaha, striking out Drury to end the inning.

In the seventh, the Bats would end the offensive stalemate with Christian Encarnacion-Strand recording his first hit of the year. A double by Michael Toglia would break the tie, as the Bats would take the lead 3-2.

Luis Mey would come in the ninth inning to try and secure the win, but Omaha would not go quietly. The Storm Chasers would load the bases with no outs, and a subsequent walk would tie the game up. Mey would work two outs, but a single to right field would score two runs, and the Bats would fall behind 5-3.

With one out in the ninth, Christian Encarnacion-Strand came through in the clutch with a two-run home run that just eluded the leaping attempt by Omaha center fielder Kameron Misner to tie the game 5-5. It was the first home run hit by a Bats player this season. The inning would stall there, as the two teams would head to extras.

After holding Omaha scoreless in the 10^th, it only took three batters for Louisville, as a sacrifice bunt by Edwin Arroyo moved designated runner Dunn over to third, then a walk-off single by Rece Hinds secured the win for the Bats.

Tejay Antone (W, 1-0) would earn the win in his season debut with 1.1 scoreless innings and two strikeouts. Eight of Louisville’s batters would record a hit in the win, with four notching two hit games. Seven Bats pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts in the triumph. The victory for Louisville is a historic one, as it notches win No. 3,000 all-time for the franchise since debuting in 1982.

The Bats (2-0) wrap up their first series of the season against the Storm Chasers (0-2) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field. Jim Kelch will be on the call for Sports Talk 790.