Mud Hens fall short in slugfest 

TOLEDO, OH - The Mud Hens fell to the Buffalo Bisons in the first game of the home stand 10-6.

Austin Bergner started the game on the mound for the Mud Hens. Bergner entered the contest with an 8.54 ERA and a 1-2 record on the season.* Tanner Morris* lead off the inning with a double down the right-field line to put himself in scoring position to kick off the game. Otto Lopez knocked in Morris with a single up the middle to put the Bisons on the board first.

Thomas Hatch made the start on the mound for the Buffalo Bisons. Hatch entered the game with a 4.08 ERA and 3-2 record on the season. Parker Meadows quickly tied the game up after he launched the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a leadoff homerun to tie the game up at one.

As Bergner got two quick outs to start the second inning, Luis De Los Santos untied the game with a long solo home run that bounced off the center of the scoreboard to make it a 2-1 Bisons lead.

Hatch was able to get the first two outs of the second inning quickly but, Jermaine Palacios slugged a triple off the top of the wall put in right field, then came around to score thanks to a wild pitch to tie the game at two. The next batter Brendon Davis walked and that marked the end of Hatch's day on the mound. Hatch was replaced by J**immy Burnette** who recorded the final out to get out of the inning.

After Burnette got the first out of the third inning, Kerry Carpenter and Donny Sands drew back-to-back walks. This forced the Bisons to go to Jackson Rees out of the bullpen. Rees plunked the first batter he faced to load the bases with one out. The next batter Michael Paperski drew a walk to bring home a run for the Mud Hens. Corey Joyce then grounded into a forceout that allowed the anther Mud Hen base runner to score, making it a 4-2 Mud Hens lead after three innings.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Bisons put runners on second and third with no outs. A wild pitch on a strikeout allowed the hitter to reach first base and the runner from third to score. Luis De Los Santos then singled up the middle to score a run and tie the game up at four. With two outs in the inning and runners on the corners, Tanner Morris roped a double down the left field line to clear the bases and make it a 6-4 Bisons lead. Ronny Garcia came into the game from the bullpen and recorded the final out.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the mud hens answered back quickly. Brandon Eisert entered the game from the bullpen and walked Brendon Davis to start the inning, Parker Meadows roped a double to put runners on the second and third with no outs. A ground ball hit by Justyn-Henry Malloy allowed Davis to score from third and cut the Bisons' lead down to one.

Ronny Garcia settled into the game by getting the first two batters in the fifth inning out in order. Rob Brantly lined a double to right field to put himself in scoring position. Luis De Los Santos then singled up the middle to score Brantly and grow the Bisos lead back up to two. Garcia walked back-to-back Bison batters to load the bases with two outs which marked the end of his day. Mud Hens manager *Anthony Iapoce* went to *Layne Henderson** entered the game from the bullpen. While facing his first batter, a wild pitch allowed the runners to all move up a base and make it an 8-5 Bisons lead.

For the very first time in the game, the Mud Hens were held scoreless in an inning. Taking the 8-5 lead into the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, Spencer Horwitz lead off the inning with a walk. The next batter *Davis Schneider *unloaded a home run out to right field and make it a 10-5 lead.

Hayden Juenger pitched the bottom of the sixth inning and retired the side without giving up a run to preserve the 10-5 lead heading into the late innings.

Chavez Fernander entered the game to pitch the top of the seventh inning and record a one-two-three frame to keep the Bisons off the board for the first and only time since the third inning.

Juenger continued to pitch into the eighth inning and recorded the first two outs in order. Andre Lipcius doubled to right field to get in scoring position with two outs. *Michael Papierski *knocked in Lipcius with a single into right field to cut the lead to 10-6.

In the top of the eighth inning, Fernander retired the side in order to keep the Bisons off the scoreboard for the second straight inning.

Billy Lescher entered the game from the bullpen to pitch the ninth inning for the Mud Hens, After hitting a batsman with one out, then later walking two batters to load the bases with two outs, Lescher was able to get out the inning without giving up a run.

Hagen Danner entered the game in the ninth inning to try to secure the win for the Bisons. Kerry Carpenter greeted Danner with a solo home run out to centerfield to make it 10-7 Bisons. With two outs in the inning the Mud Hounds were able to get the tying run to the plate but we're unable to to make the comeback as the Bison's secured the 10-7 victory.

NOTABLES:

Parker Meadows : 3-4, R, RBI, BB, HR

Jermaine Palacios: 1-4, R, 3B

Michael Papierski: 1-3, 2 RBI, BB

Brendon Davis: 1-2, R, BB

Kerry Carpenter: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, HR

Chavez Fernander: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB