By Mike Monaco

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Bowling Green blew open an otherwise tight affair with a five-run sixth inning to defeat South Bend, 9-4, in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Hot Rods (5-6 second half, 42-39 overall) reclaimed a one-run lead in the bottom of the fourth and packed on the five-spot in the sixth to split the four-game, home-and-home series with the Cubs (6-5 second half, 35-43 overall).

South Bend starter Tommy Thorpe worked four-plus innings, surrendering three runs before he exited in the fifth with two runners aboard and nobody out. In total, the southpaw was tagged for four runs, six hits and four walks.

Hot Rods righty Henry Centeno spun seven stanzas of two-hit, two-run ball.

South Bend designated hitter Jason Vosler doubled and scored in the fourth and cracked a solo home run in the ninth.

Cubs left-handed reliever Jordan Minch logged 1.2 innings and allowed five unearned runs. Righty Daniel Lewis posted 1-2-3 seventh and eighth innings.

Bowling Green leadoff hitter Thomas Milone began the bottom of the first with a solo home run tucked inside the right-field foul pole. The Hot Rods loaded the bases later in the frame, but Thorpe escaped further trouble.

Held without a baserunner through the first three innings, South Bend went to work in the fourth. Center fielder Charcer Burks worked a walk, and Vosler smacked a double. With runners at second and third, first baseman Gioskar Amaya poked an RBI single to right field to tie the game, 1-1. Vosler then scored from third on a fielder’s choice, handing South Bend the 2-1 advantage.

But Bowling Green stormed back in the last of the fourth. Catcher Nick Ciuffo and first baseman Carter Burgess led off with consecutive hits, and left fielder Bralin Jackson plated Ciuffo on an RBI groundout. Third baseman Grant Kay lifted the Hot Rods ahead 3-2 with an RBI base knock to right-center.

After chasing Thorpe in the fifth, the Hot Rods tacked on more. Right fielder Justin Williams dropped an RBI single into left field off of Minch, widening the gap to 4-2.

Hot Rods shortstop Alex Sole popped a two-run triple in the sixth inning to crack open a 6-2 margin. Williams’ RBI single to right field made it 7-2. Ciuffo’s two-out RBI double down the right-field line busted it open to 9-2.

In the ninth, Vosler yanked a home run to right, and catcher Erick Castillo knocked an RBI double to score right fielder Jeffrey Baez, pulling the Cubs within five, 9-4.

South Bend returns home to Four Winds Field on Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET for a clash with Fort Wayne. Cubs right-hander Trevor Clifton (4.33 ERA) will oppose TinCaps righty Michael Kelly (3.50 ERA).