IL Louisville Bats

Tolman's Walk-Off Homer Leads Clippers over Bats

Published on May 1, 2022 under International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release


COLUMBUS, OH - Mitchell Tolman hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Columbus Clippers an 8-7 win over the Louisville Bats on Sunday afternoon at Huntington Park.

In a back-and-forth game that featured five lead changes and four ties, Tolman's blast just cleared the left field fence to give the Clippers' the win and series victory.

Louisville jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second inning when Taylor Motter hit a no-doubt home run over the fence in left field. It was Motter's second long ball in six games since joining the Bats' roster.

The lead grew to 3-0 with a two-run rally in the top of the third inning. With two runners on and one out, Albert Almora Jr. singled home Lorenzo Cedrola on a ground ball through the left side. Three batters later, Motter drew a bases loaded walk from Columbus starter Adam Scott.

In the bottom of the third, the Clippers loaded the bases with one out before Tyler Freeman drove in a run with a groundout. Gabriel Arias then hit a soft grounder to third that Cristian Santana fielded cleanly, but his throw sailed into right field, allowing two runs to score and tie the game.

Almora Jr. gave the Bats the lead back in the top of the fourth with an RBI single, but Columbus answered with a Gavin Collins sacrifice fly in the sixth to tie the game at 4-4. Two batters later, Will Benson gave the Clippers the lead with an RBI double.

Graham Ashcraft started for Louisville and allowed three earned runs in 5.1 innings of work. Ashcraft allowed a double to David Fry, the last batter he faced in the game, which was the first extra-base hit he has allowed this season in 22 innings and 107 batters.

The rollercoaster ballgame continued into the top of the seventh inning when JT Riddle doubled with two outs and was brought home on a Chris Okey double, once again tying the game.

The tie lasted just a half inning, as Tolman and Collins each had RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh to put Columbus ahead 7-5.

Cristian Santana brought the Bats within one with an RBI single in the eighth. Then in the ninth, Ronnie Dawson drove in the tying run on a fielder's choice.

After a day off Monday, the Bats will return to action on Tuesday night against the Indianapolis Indians. Game one of the six-game series is set for 6:35 p.m. ET at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

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