The Bowling Green Hot Rods used a five-run, eighth-inning rally to storm past Fort Wayne (Ind.) and take the opener of a four-game series 5-2 on Thursday at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne.

Bowling Green (60-53 overall, 29-17 second half) sent nine men to the plate in the eighth, including back-to-back-to-back RBI singles from Luis Rengifo, Josh Lowe and Garrett Whitley and a two-run double from Rene Pinto.

The Hot Rods were 0-41 this season when trailing after seven innings before Thursday’s win.

Rengifo finished with three hits, while Lowe and Pinto had two hits each.

Reimin Ramos earned with the win with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and five strikeouts.

The series continues at 6:05 p.m. CDT Friday with right-hander Chris Pike (3-3, 3.56) scheduled to start for the Hot Rods.