Hujsak’s homer lifts Hot Rods over Renegades
Published 9:01 pm Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Bowling Green’s Connor Hujsak celebrates a grand slam during the Hotrods game against Brooklyn on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Bowling Green Ballpark in Bowling Green, Ky. (Caleb Lowndes / Daily News) (Caleb Lowndes)
Connor Husjak blasted a two-run homer in the eighth inning, powering the Bowling Green Hot Rods past the Hudson Valley Renegades 7-6 on Tuesday in South Atlantic League action at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls, New York.
Bowling Green (33-12) plated the first runs of the game against Hudson Valley starting pitcher Chase Hampton in the top of the third inning. Marshall Toole reached on a Hampton error and stole second base. Adrian Santana drove him in with a triple, making it a 1-0 Hot Rods lead. Santana scored on a Theo Gillen sacrifice fly, increasing the lead to 2-0.
The Renegades (21-24) responded in the bottom of the third against Hot Rods starter Jose Urbina. Camden Troyer led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cole Gabrielson plated him with a double, making it 2-1. Gabrielson stole third and a sacrifice fly from Core Jackson scored him, tying the game at 2-2.
Two more runs came around to score for Bowling Green against Hampton in the top of the fourth inning. Nathan Flewelling led off with a double and Aidan Smith walked, putting runners on first and second. Narciso Polanco brought in both runners with a triple to right, putting the Hot Rods ahead, 4-2.
Bowling Green added to the lead in the top of the sixth inning against Hudson Valley reliever Bryce Cunningham. Smith led off the inning with a double and scored on an Emilien Pitre single, bringing the score to 5-2.
Hudson Valley evened the score in the bottom of the sixth against Bowling Green reliever Andres Galan. Kyle West singled and Wilson Rodriguez homered, bringing the score to 5-4. Roderick Arias tied the game at 5-5 with a solo homer to left.
The Hot Rods broke the tie in the top of the eighth against Cunningham. Pitre reached on a walk, and one out later, Hujsak blasted a two-run homer to left to give the Hot Rods a 7-5 lead.
One run came around to score for the Renegades on a solo homer from Troyer, but that was all the offense they could muster in the bottom of the ninth, ending in a 7-6 Bowling Green victory.
Junior William (3-0) received the win, tossing two hitless innings, allowing one walk and striking out one batter. Cunningham (0-2) was given the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out five. Noah Beal earned his fifth save of the season, allowing one run on one hit while walking two over an inning.
The Hot Rods and Renegades play the second game of a six-game series on Wednesday with a 10:05 a.m. CT first pitch at Heritage Financial Park. Bowling Green will send out right-hander Jacob Kisting (1-0, 1.27) against Hudson Valley righty Luis Serna (2-1, 2.79).
