Sasaki Secures Four-Hit Night, Bowling Green Hangs on in 5-4 Win

May 12, 2023 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release

Bowling Green, Kentucky - Shane Sasaki was a perfect 4-for-4 with a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that helped solidify a 5-4 win for the Bowling Green Bootleggers (14-14) over the Hickory Crawdads (12-16) on Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Hickory began the scoring in the top of the first against Bowling Green starter Patrick Wicklander. Josh Hatcher thumped a solo homer over the left field wall to give the Crawdads a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Keyber Rodriguez singled and Marcus Smith walked to put runners on first and second. After Rodriguez stole third, he scored on a disengagement balk from Wicklander to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Bowling Green offense pounded Hickory starter Kumar Rocker for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Nick Schnell blasted a solo homer over the right field wall to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Blake Robertson doubled and scored on a two-run home run by Sasaki to move the score to 3-2. Carson Williams walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Junior Caminero to put Bowling Green up 4-2. After Caminero moved up to second on a wild pitch, he was plated on an RBI single from Bob Seymour to increase the lead to 5-2.

Hickory scored a run in the seventh and eighth inning, but Antonio Menendez shut out the Crawdads offense in the top of the ninth to carry Bowling Green to a 5-4 victory.

Wicklander (1-1) tossed 6.0 innings, letting up two runs on six hits, two walks, and six strikeouts to notch the win. Rocker (2-2) picked up the loss, allowing five runs on six hits, a walk, and five strikeouts. Menendez (2) earned his second save by striking out one in a scoreless frame.

The Hot Rods and Crawdads play game four of a six-game series on Friday with first pitch set for 6:35 PM CT. Bowling Green is sending J.J. Goss (0-1, 5.75) to the mound, while Hickory has yet to determine a starter.

Fans can catch all the action by watching on MiLB.tv or listening through the MiLB First Pitch App, tuning into Talk 104.1 FM and 930 AM WKCT, or visiting https://www.milb.com/bowling-green/fans/audio-listen-live.

South Atlantic League Stories from May 12, 2023

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• Bonaci, Rosario Solid as Drive Fall 5-3 to Dash - Greenville Drive
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• Grasshoppers Overcome the BlueClaws 6-4 to Extend Its Win Streak - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Batista Tosses Five Scoreless in Asheville's 6-2 Win in Rome - Asheville Tourists
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• HVR Game Notes - May 12, 2023 - Hudson Valley Renegades
• Drive Bats Deliver Eight-Run Seventh for Comeback Victory, 11-7 - Greenville Drive
• Braves Conquer Early Deficit, Top Tourists in Game Three - Rome Emperors
• Sasaki Secures Four-Hit Night, Bowling Green Hangs on in 5-4 Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Melton Pounds Out Three Hits in 9-4 Defeat - Asheville Tourists

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