The Force Proves Stronger Than the Heat on Star Wars Night at First Horizon Park

• 

NASHVILLE, TN - A suffocating late-summer heatwave could not stop the Force at First Horizon Park on Friday night, as 7,500 fans gathered for Star Wars Night and witnessed a dramatic, five-run ninth-inning rally that propelled the Nashville Sounds to a stunning 5-4 walk-off victory over the Louisville Bats.

Despite a Heat Advisory pushing heat index values past 110 degrees earlier in the day and keeping the evening air thick with humidity, dedicated fans filled the stands in full Jedi robes and Stormtrooper armor. The Force was out in full strength, but through eight innings, Nashville’s offense remained completely frozen.

Brewers No. 7 prospect Tyson Hardin delivered a stellar outing, striking out seven over seven dominant innings and allowing just one run. However, Louisville starter Carson Spiers matched him with six scoreless frames. When the Bats tacked on three runs off Lyon Richardson in the eighth to build a 4-0 cushion, the Sounds seemed destined for defeat.

Then came the ninth-inning miracle.

Trailing 4-0 against reliever Anthony Misiewicz, Tyler Black and Ethan Murray—who extended his team-best on-base streak to 18 games—ignited the spark with back-to-back singles. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before Brock Wilken plated the first run with a sacrifice fly. Ramon Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-2.

After Jonathan Ornelas drew a pinch-hit walk to reload the bases, Jeferson Quero lined an RBI single to make it 4-3. With two outs and Eduardo Garcia at the plate, reliever Zach Maxwell uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Rodriguez to score the tying run. The ensuing throw to the plate skipped past Maxwell into the infield; sensing the moment, Ornelas sprinted home from third, sliding under the tag to seal Nashville’s second walk-off win of the week and fourth straight one-run victory.