By MIKE MONACO

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – South Bend scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, but Bowling Green scored five unanswered and pulled out a 5-2 win over the Cubs to even the series Friday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Hot Rods evened the score, 2-2, in the fourth and nabbed the go-ahead runs in the seventh.

South Bend starting pitcher Trevor Clifton (1-1, 2.91 ERA) worked five innings of two-run ball in which he allowed two hits and two walks, while fanning five. Clifton didn’t allow a hit over his last four frames. Bowling Green starter Chris Pike surrendered two runs in seven stanzas, scattering seven hits.

South Bend designated hitter Justin Marra knocked an RBI single to right field in the top of the first inning to score second baseman Chesny Young. Cubs third baseman Jesse Hodges then followed with an RBI single of his own to center field, plating first baseman Yasiel Balaguert and propping South Bend to an early 2-0 advantage.

The Hot Rods snatched a run back in the last of the first when designated hitter Jace Conrad smacked an RBI single to score leadoff man Tommy Milone from second. Bowling Green still had the bases loaded with no outs, but Clifton struck out the side and maintained the 2-1 lead.

Bowling Green knotted the score, 2-2, in the fourth inning on a wild pitch. The Hot Rods vaulted ahead 3-2 in the seventh when left fielder Hunter Lockwood rocked a solo home run off of Cubs reliever Francisco Carrillo. Two batters later, shortstop Cristian Toribio doubled. He then scored on an RBI single by Milone, as Bowling Green widened its margin to 4-2.

Lockwood’s RBI single in the eighth nudged the score to 5-2.

South Bend and Bowling Green close out their three-game series Saturday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Bowling Green Ballpark. Cubs right-hander Ryan Williams (2-0, 0.35 ERA) will oppose Hot Rods righty Enderson Franco (2-1, 4.29 ERA).