Hot Rods split doubleheader vs Rome Braves

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green Hot Rods (36-20) pitching staff held the Rome Braves (31-25) to two hits and one run over 14 innings of baseball in a doubleheader split on Thursday at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Georgia. The two teams will play the fifth game of the eight-game series on Friday with a 6:00 PM CT first pitch.

The Hot Rods were first to the scoreboard in game one, plating a run in the third against Rome starter Coleman Huntley. Luis Trevino led off the frame with a double to right-center and went to third when Osmy Gregorio grounded out to second. Greg Jones did the same, but Trevino scored to give Bowling Green a 1-0 lead.

Hot Rods starter John Doxakis finished his day without allowing a hit, while the lone baserunner against him reached in the first on an error. Colby White took over in the sixth and maintained the no-hitter until he had two strikes on Jesse Franklin V with two outs in the seventh. Michael Harris II walked with one out and Franklin hammered the fifth pitch of his at-bat out of the ballpark to right, breaking up the no-hit bid while simultaneously walking off the Hot Rods, 2-1, in the first game of the doubleheader.

Doxakis went 5.0 no-hit innings with six strikeouts in a no-decision. White (0-2) took the loss, allowing one run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout along with a blown save.

In game two, Bowling Green supported starter Miller Hogan with a pair of homers in the second. Jordan Qsar and Hill Alexander went back-to-back to make it a 2-0 game against Rome starter Mitch Stallings. The Hot Rods added five runs to their lead in the fifth against Stallings and Marrick Crouse out of the bullpen, plating five runs on six hits including homers by Greg Jones and Qsar’s second of the ballgame to make it a 7-0 advantage. The Hot Rods one-hit the Braves for the second straight game en route to a 7-0 win in the twin bill split.

Hogan tossed a perfect 3.0 innings in a no-decision, striking out four. Michael Costanzo (2-0) allowed one hit and two walks over his 2.0 shutout innings with three strikeouts. Ezequiel Zabaleta hurled a hitless 2.0 innings with two walks and a strikeout.