Toledo, OH- The Toledo Mud Hens (74-74) shut out the Louisville Bats (65-83) on Sunday, September 20, in the final game of the series and 2026 season. The Hens' pitching staff held the Bats to just three hits, no walks, and no runs, as Carl Edwards Jr. got his eighth win of the year and Jack Little earned his sixth save. Today's 2-0 victory gave Toledo a 5-1 series win over Louisville.
Carl Edwards Jr. was the starting arm for Toledo this afternoon. The righty struck out the first two Bats at the plate and a put out a third to end Louisville’s opener. The Bats’ starting pitcher, Chase Solesky, also struck out a pair in his first inning and the game held hitless through one.
Both Louisville and Toledo tallied its first hit in the second, but each team's defense quickly retired the order. Edwards Jr. sent three consecutive Bats back to the dugout in the third. Solesky and the Bats’ infield returned the favor.
Scoring started in the fourth when Max Anderson reached on a single and Jace Jung followed with a walk. The two Hens on base set up Corey Julks with an opportunity to bat one in. He did just that and gave the home team a 1-0 lead. Justice Bigbie followed suit and ripped one up the middle for the second and final RBI of the contest (2-0).
The Hens changed pitchers after Edwards Jr. threw for five complete and five strikeouts. Enmanuel De Jesus came out of the pen for the sixth. His single inning of work included a pair of strikeouts.
Yilber Díaz was on the bump for the next two, he punched out three. Jack Little came in to close it out in the ninth.
The Bats needed three to pass the Hens with only three outs to work with. Little allowed one hit in the frame, but the Hens’ defense stayed sharp and completed the shutout in the season finale.
The Mud Hens ended their season with a win and get to head into next year on a high note. Looking ahead to the 2027 season, opening day will be the earliest season start in team history, on March 26 against the Indianapolis Indians, and will kick off the Mud Hens’ 25th season at Fifth Third Field.
Notables
C. Edwards Jr. – 5.0IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 5K
C. Julks – 2/3, RBI
J. Bigbie – 1/3, RBI