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IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats Walk-Off Mud Hens, 4-3

April 7, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Tyler Goeddel's RBI single with no outs in the bottom of the ninth propelled the Louisville Bats (1-1) to a walk-off victory over the Toledo Mud Hens (1-1) Saturday evening at Louisville Slugger Field. Following a blown save in the top half of the frame, consecutive singles from Goeddel and designated hitter Sebastian Elizalde helped the Bats pull off their first win of the season in front of 5,156 fans.

Despite the blown save, reliever Zack Weiss picked up the win, his first of the season, while Toledo right-hander Mark Montgomery earned the loss. Bats starter Jackson Stephens was solid in his 2018 debut, giving up five hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts over five innings of work. For the Mud Hens, Chad Bell went 3.1 innings, allowing two hits and a run with five strikeouts.

Saturday's game opened with offense in the first inning, as Toledo took an early 2-0 lead off a single from right fielder Jim Adduci and a two-run double from designated hitter Chad Huffman. In the bottom of the first, a single to center from second baseman Nick Senzel set up first baseman Patrick Kivlehan for a RBI single that cut the deficit in half. Following Kivlehan's hit, the Bats' offense was stymied for much of the game, with Toledo pitching retiring 12 consecutive Louisville batters at one point before a fifth-inning single from catcher Stuart Turner broke the streak. Senzel extended his early-season average to .444 with a 2-for-4 performance which included a run and a stolen base.

The Mud Hens threatened Stephens by loading the bases in the third with only one out, but the Louisville right-hander evaded danger with a strike out and fly-out to right. In the fourth, Bats third baseman Alex Blandino saved a pair of potential hits with two terrific plays, including an above-the-shoulder grab that retired the Toledo lead-off batter.

The Louisville offense finally got cooking in the sixth following a lead-off Blandino walk and subsequent advance to third on a Senzel ground-out. On the next at-bat, right fielder Rosell Herrera put the Bats ahead, 3-2, with a 372-ft. shot to the right field bleachers, the first Louisville home run of the season.

Toledo challenged again in the seventh when they loaded the bases, but reliever Dylan Floro was able to induce a liner to Senzel that kept the Mud Hens at bay. The Bats looked for insurance runs late in the game, but were unable to push any across the plate, keeping the lead at one entering the ninth.

Weiss started the ninth with a lead-off walk to second baseman Dawel Lugo, followed by a single to right that advanced him to third. With a 2-2 count, Aducci grounded into a force-out, bringing home Lugo to tie the game at 3. Following another walk to Huffman, a fly-out ended the inning without further damage, allowing the Bats to pull out the win in the next half.

The Bats and Mud Hens will return Sunday for the rubber match of the opening series, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. Louisville will send RHP Jose Lopez to face Toledo RHP Artie Lewicki in the season opener for both.

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