Mason Auer finished a double short of the cycle and Patrick Wicklander dominated as the Bowling Green Hot Rods cruised to a 5-1 win over the Greenville Drive at Bowling Green Ballpark on Thursday.

Bowling Green (67-42 overall, 26-18 second half) started off with a bang. Auer sent Yusniel Padron-Artiles’ first pitch over the left-field wall. Alikas  Williams singled and Alexander Ovalles hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to 3-0.

The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning, where Auer plated two runs on a triple off of Ryan Zeferjahn to bring BG’s lead to 5-0.

Greenville (41-68, 15-28) got on the board in the seventh with a solo homer to make it 5-1. BG did not surrender a hit after that, and closed out the 5-1 win for its first victory of the homestand.

Wicklander (4-4) earned the win in six shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out five. Austin Vernon earned the save in three innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and five strikeouts.

Bowling Green and Greenville will continue their series on Friday at Bowling Green Ballpark, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Logan Workman (4-3, 3.69) will start for the Hot Rods, and the Drive have yet to name a starter.