Williams boosts Hot Rods to extra-inning win over Rome
Published 10:00 pm Saturday, May 6, 2023
Carson Williams homered twice and slapped an RBI single to center in the top of the 11th inning that aided the Bowling Green Hot Rods’ 7-6 win over the Rome Braves in extra-innings on Saturday at Advent Health Stadium in Rome, Ga.
The Bowling Green (10-14) offense started the scoring in the top of the first off Rome starter Ian Mejia. Williams blasted a solo homer to left center that put the Hot Rods up 1-0.
Rome (12-13) took the lead against Bowling Green starter J.J. Goss in the bottom of the second. Keyshawn Ogans worked a walk and scored on a two-run homer off the bat of Brandon Parker to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Bryson Horne walked and Cory Acton homered to left to make it 4-1.
With Mejia still on the mound in the top of the fifth, BG’s Kenny Piper hammered a lead-off double to left. He scored on a home run by Blake Robertson to cut the deficit to 4-3. Oniell Manzueta and Shane Sasaki singled to put runners on first and second. Williams lifted a home run to left center, putting the Hot Rods up 6-4.
The Braves scored again off Goss in the bottom of the fifth. Acton reached second on a throwing error from Goss and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Drake Baldwin hit a ground ball to first, scoring Acton to make it a 6-5 ballgame.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rome tied it up against Bowling Green reliever Sean Harney. Kevin Kilpatrick walked and scored on an RBI double by Ignacio Alvarez to move the score to 6-all.
Bowling Green took the lead back in the top of the 11th against Rome reliever Rob Griswold. With Robertson at third, Williams singled to center to put the Hot Rods up 7-6.
Nelson Alvarez shut down the Braves in the bottom of the 11th, solidifying a 7-6 Hot Rods victory.
Alvarez (2-1) picked up the win, striking out four and walking one in two scoreless innings. Griswold (1-1) collected the loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits and four strikeouts in two frames.
Bowling Green and Rome play the finale of their six-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 12:05 p.m. CT. The Hot Rods are scheduled to send right-hander Ben Peoples (0-2, 4.19) to the mound, while the Braves have yet to determine their starter.