Cougars rally for 6-2 win

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - After playing three straight seven-inning contests due to a rain-shortened game and a doubleheader, the Cougars (10-3) came from behind in the top of the ninth inning against the Hot Rods (2-10) for a 6-2 victory Wednesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Andrew Hanse was productive in his first two innings of relief for Bowling Green before he came on in line for the save with the Hot Rods leading 2-1 in the ninth.

Carhart and Yasiel Balaguert quickly started the rally with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, David Bote tied the game with a single to bring home Carhart.

Danny Lockhart followed with an RBI single to give the Cougars the 3-2 lead. Shawon Dunston Jr. continued the offense with a run-scoring single. Trey Martin joined in with a double to plate Lockhart. After a pitching change, Jake Hannemann was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Carlos Penalver drew a walk to force in a run, making in 6-2.

In the beginning of the game, Mark Johnson used a little ingenuity to take a lead against the Hot Rods as Hannemann led off the game with a double and reached third base on an error by right fielder James Harris. Penalver forced a walked, putting runners at the corners. Carhart struck out while Penalver took off for second base. On the throw to second, Hannemann took off for home and scored for a 1-0 Cougars lead.

The Hot Rods got to Tyler Skulina in the sixth inning and forced him out of the game. Pat Blair and Juniel Querecuto connected on back-to-back singles, taking Skulina off the mound and replacing him with Gerardo Concepcion. A Kean Wong sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, while a Johnny Field sacrifice fly to center brought home Blair for the first Hot Rods run of the series. Querecuto moved to third on the fly out and later scored on Concepcion's wild pitch for the Hot Rods' first lead of the series 2-1.

Tyler Bremer (1-0) earned the win pitching 1⅔ scoreless innings, giving up a walk, a hit and striking out two batters. Hanse (0-2) suffered the loss along with a blown save being charged with 5 earned runs on 6 hits.

The Cougars stay on the road for a three-game series against the Dayton Dragons. The first game will feature Daury Torrez (1-0, 4.35) for the Cougars against Dayton's Amir Garrett (0-1, 3.60). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday from Fifth Third Field.