The Spartanburgers looked to clinch the series, with Bowling Green, on Easter Sunday afternoon in a matchup between Lefty Dylan MacLean (1-0, 10.50 ERA) and T.J. Nichols (0-1, 6.00 ERA). MacLean struck out the side in the top of the first – save for a 2 out solo homer to the berm in left by former UNC Tar Heel Mac Horvath. Hub City managed to answer when Anthony Gutierrez singled with one out and stole 2nd, eventually coming home on a two-base throwing error on a pickoff attempt. That would lead to the game being knotted at 1 through an inning, and the tone was set for a seesaw affair to decide whether the series would end in a 3-3 tie or be won.
Bowling Green reclaimed the lead in the top of the 2nd by cashing in a leadoff double from Third baseman Hunter Haas. He came home on a throwing error on Anthony Gutierrez after he laid out for a diving catch on a sinking line drive in center. Fortunately that was all the damage done as a fly ball to left retired the side. Hub City threatened to tie it in the bottom half after a 2 out double from Gleider Figuereo but Cal Stark lined to third and Marcus Smith grounded to first unassisted to end the inning. Another opportunity was squandered in the third after Gutierrez was beaned with 2 out and stole 2nd, only to be left on as Arturo Disla popped up to the catcher in foul ground.
Following another scoreless inning for MacLean, who exited the game after the 4th inning having struck out 5 and walked one, the Spartanburgers tied things up on a leadoff solo homer into the home bullpen in the right field corner, marking the first of the season for UNC alum and designated hitter Casey Cook. The Burgers ended up going down in order after it to send the game to the 5th tied at 2.
In the 6th, Bowling Green jumped back in front after Adrian Santana drew a leadoff walk, later scoring on a one out single with an error on the left fielder off the bat of Horvath. Noah Myers, a USC Upstate alum, followed with an RBI knock to score a huge insurance run, giving the Rods a 4-2 lead heading to the home half of the 6th, where the Spartanburgers went down in order.
The Hot Rods struck for more insurance in the top of the 8th off reliever Jose Gonzalaez, who would be tabbed with the loss after surrendering 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits in 3.1 innings. It came as Bowling Green cashed in a leadoff double from Pitre with a 1 out RBI double from Myers. They added one more to their cushion in the 9th with a leadoff line drive solo shot into the first row of the Chaser’s Corner seats in the left field corner.
In the end, Hub City was able to mount a 9th inning rally, starting off with a leadoff shot into the middle of the grass berm in left from the heavy fan favorite Disla. The Burgers managed to bring the winning run to the plate with 2 out after singles from Keith Jones II and Cal Stark. But, it fell short as Marcus Smith lined an 0-1 pitch right to the left fielder to end it for a 6-4 loss, splitting the series at 3 games a piece and dropping the Burgers’ overall record to 8-7.
Seven of the 9 Spartanburgers starters notched a hit in the loss, with single RBIs coming from Disla, Cook, and Hardy.
Hub City will get Monday off before starting their first series against division/regional rival Greenville. The six game home set starts on Tuesday night with a 6:35 PM first pitch. Pitching matchups for game one are yet to be determined.
