Mud Hens rally, top Bats 4-3 on walk-off walk

The Toledo Mud Hens scored three times in the bottom of the ninth and drew a walk-off walk to defeat the Louisville Bats 4-3 on Friday at Fifth Third Field.

With the bases loaded and two out, Louisville brought in reliever John Murphy to face Ryan Kreidler with the game tied. Murphy, however, failed to locate — throwing ball 3 over Kreidler’s head — before missing again to bring home Drew Maggi as the winning run.

The Mud Hens (47-53) picked up their fifth straight win over the Bats (49-50) despite only having one run on five hits through eight innings.

The first three Toledo batters reached against Zach Maxwell in the bottom of the ninth. Riley Unroe walked, while Stephen Scott and Maggi singled, with the latter driving in Unroe.

Akil Baddoo and Spencer Torkelson each flew out to center field with Scott on second, before Jace Jung walked to load the bases, prompting the removal of Maxwell (3-1), who took the loss.

Andrew Magno (2-5) pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings with a strikeout.

Toledo starter Devin Sweet allowed one run in three innings on four hits with three strikeouts.

Scott (2 for 5, double) had the only multi-hit game for the Hens. His RBI sacrifice fly scored Justice Bigbie in the second inning.

Louisville’s Edwin Rios (double) was 2 for 2 with two RBIs and two walks. Tony Kemp was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

Toledo can complete the six-game series sweep with the finale set for 2:05 p.m. Sunday. Ty Madden (1-4, 9.24 ERA) will start for the Mud Hens against Randy Wynne (1-0, 3.21).