By Mike Monaco

SOUTH BEND  — Bowling Green’s offense came to life in the middle innings, and the Hot Rods bested South Bend, 6-3, in game two of the four-game set Saturday night in front of 7,072 fans at Four Winds Field.

The Cubs (19-24) surged ahead 3-1 in the third with a three-run frame, but Bowling Green (25-18) countered with a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one more in the sixth. Right-handers Brent Honeywell (five innings, three runs) and Hunter Wood (four innings, no runs) combined to quiet the Cubs.

South Bend starter Jake Stinnett worked three innings in his first appearance since being activated from the disabled list. Stinnett allowed four hits and stranded two runners in scoring position in the first two frames. The 2014 second-round pick then worked a 1-2-3 third inning and concluded his night by fanning three of the last four batters he faced, whipping in tantalizing sliders.

Cubs first baseman Gioskar Amaya (3-for-4, one run, one stolen base), designated hitter Cael Brockmeyer (2-for-4, one double, two RBI) and second baseman Andrew Ely (2-for-4) powered the South Bend offense.

Bowling Green struck first in the top of the first inning, placing runners at the corners with one out. Second baseman Jace Conrad, who doubled and stole third, scored on a lineout to center field by right fielder Justin Williams.

With two outs and nobody on in the third, South Bend went to work. Amaya floated a single to left field, and shortstop Jason Vosler was drilled with a fastball. Brockmeyer then blasted a two-run double off the wall in right-center field. He moved to third on a pitch that went to the backstop, and right fielder Yasiel Balaguert reeled him in and made it 3-1 with a line drive up the middle that clipped Honeywell.

Bowling Green cut the deficit in half in the fourth off of Cubs reliever Ryan McNeil, who did leave the bases loaded and maintain a 3-2 lead by striking out Conrad after taking a line drive off the hand in the previous at-bat.

The Hot Rods plated two more in the fifth against Cubs left-hander Tommy Thorpe. No. 3 hitter Casey Gillaspie knocked a leadoff single, and Williams followed with an RBI triple to tie the game. Grant Kay’s sacrifice fly to center field pushed Bowling Green ahead 4-3.

Williams smoked a two-out RBI double in the sixth to extend the lead to 5-3.

The Hot Rods added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when left fielder Bralin Jackson punched an RBI single to right field.

McNeil (one inning), Thorpe (2.2 innings, three runs) and lefty Jordan Minch (2.1 innings, one runs) relieved Stinnett.

Cubs left fielder Charcer Burks (0-for-4) had his 12-game hitting streak snapped.

The 7,072 fans marked South Bend’s sixth game with an attendance mark of at least 7,000 at Four Winds Field. Last year, South Bend didn’t eclipse 7,000 until July 4.

South Bend and Bowling Green meet for the third of four games Sunday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander Jeremy Null (4-1, 1.73 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Hot Rods righty Greg Harris (2-3, 2.10 ERA).