Bowling Green, Kentucky – Two eighth inning home runs from Jhon Diaz and Narciso Polanco surged the Bowling Green Hot Rods (82-48, 35-30) to a 4-3 win over the Greenville Drive (59-70, 33-33) to clinch the South Atlantic League’s South Division Second Half Title at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Sunday’s win marks the second time in Bowling Green’s franchise history that the Hot Rods have won both halves of a season. Bowling Green has now won the last five SAL South Division halves since the second half of the 2024 season.
The Drive scored first, plating two runs in the top of the third inning against Hot Rods starter Blake Morgan. Nazzan Zanetello and Skylar King logged back-to-back singles and moved to second and third on a groundout. Owen Hull slapped a two-run single to left-center field, giving Greenville a 2-0 advantage.
Bowling Green’s bullpen started strong to keep the game at 2-0 through seven innings. Jadon Bercovich fanned the side in the top of the sixth while Jacob Hartlaub earned two strikeouts in the seventh inning.
Greenville added one more run in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Andy Rodriguez. Jake Shaffner singled, advanced to second on a Hull walk, and scored on an Isaiah Jackson base knock to make it 3-0 Drive.
The Hot Rods turned the game around with four runs in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Trennor O’Donnell. Diaz led off the frame with a solo home run to right field, cutting the lead to 3-1. Jose Perez and Brendan Summerhill logged one-out singles, and Polanco torched a three-run shot to right field for a 4-3 Bowling Green edge.
Mason Nichols hurled a scoreless top of the ninth inning, clinching a 4-3 Hot Rods victory.
Rodriguez (3-3) received the win with 1.0 inning, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. O’Donnell (2-2) took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits, adding two punch outs in 3.1 innings. Nichols (1) earned the save with a shutdown ninth frame, giving up just one hit and fanning one batter.
The Hot Rods begin the 2026 SAL Division Series on Tuesday Night at Truist Stadium against the Winston-Salem Dash. Game one of a three-game series is scheduled for 5:30 PM CT.
Fans can catch all the action by watching on MiLB.tv, listening through the MiLB First Pitch App and BGHotRods.com. Fans can also secure their seats for future home Hot Rods games by calling (270) 901-2121, visiting the Bowling Green Ballpark box office during normal business hours, or going to www.bghotrods.com.
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Hot Rods Baseball