Hot Rods catcher Brett Sullivan hits a two-run double during their win over the Dayton Dragons on Friday, April 8, 2016, at Bowling Green Ballpark. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

The Bowling Green Hot Rods’ offense continued to pile up the runs, completing the sweep of the opening two-game home series with a 9-4 win over the Dayton (Ohio) Dragons on Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Bowling Green (2-0) followed up Thursday’s season-opening seven-run outburst with a 12-hit attack on Friday to finish with 16 runs in the series – equaling the 2011 record for the most runs in the opening two games of the season.

“It’s a really good start for us,” BG manager Reinaldo Ruiz said. “We are happy for the guys. They’ve been swinging the bats really good since spring training, so I am glad they are still swinging the bats really good.”

Bowling Green built a 7-0 lead after four innings, but needed a couple of insurance runs late to get some breathing room.

The Hot Rods got on the board with a bases-loaded walk in the first before exploding for five runs in the second – including a two run-double by Brett Sullivan – and added an RBI single from Peter Maris in the fourth.

Dayton struck for three runs in the sixth and added a run in the seventh to trim the deficit to 7-4, but Zacrey Law delivered an RBI single and Angel Perez added an RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring.

Sullivan paced the offense with three hits, while Maris, Perez and Law finished with two hits each.

<Bz14f”sans-serif”>FEELING AT HOME 

Cincinnati native Cameron Varga earned the win facing the affiliate of his hometown team.

After allowing two singles to the first three batters, Varga settled in with five shutout innings before running into a little trouble in the ninth. The right-hander went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

”He did a good job,” Ruiz said. “(In the) sixth inning he got a little bit in trouble. He was keeping the ball up and he paid the price for it. Other than that he gave us a really good start.”

<Bz14f”sans-serif”>PATIENCE AT THE PLATE

Bowling Green hitters were once again pests at the plate, chasing a Dayton starter in the early innings for a second straight night.

Thursday’s starter Tanner Rainey through 75 pitches in three innings before exiting. On Friday starter, Jacob Constante threw 37 pitches in the first inning and 17 more in the second, leaving before recording an out.

Ruiz said it is an approach that he hopes BG hitters will continue as the season goes on.

”We have a couple guys that can take a lot of pitches,” Ruiz said. “They have a good idea of the strike zone. Brandon Lowe and Jacob Cronenworth, they really work every at-bat. The same thing with Peter Maris. Those guys know that they are going at the plate.”

<Bz14f”sans-serif”>UP NEXT

The Bowling Green Hot Rods head out on the road for the next five games, starting with a two-game series with Dayton that begins at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Left-hander Michael Velasquez will get the start for the Hot Rods, with right-hander Jose Lopez scheduled to take the hill for the Dragons.

— Follow Bowling Green Hot Rods reporter Micheal Compton on Twitter @mcompton428 or visit bgdailynews.com.