A two-run sixth for Louisville proved to be the difference in the game as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (59-41) fell to the Bats (50-50) by a score of 5-3 on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

In the afore-mentioned two-run sixth, Juan Perez drew a one-out walk and scored on Scott Schebler's RBI triple to tie things at three before Schebler later scored on Jesse Winker's two-out RBI single to give the Bats a 4-3 advantage.

Schebler's two-run shot off of Pigs starter Ben Lively in the bottom of the first gave Louisville an early 2-0 lead.

Lively (4-4) gave up the four runs on three hits to go along with three walks and five strikeouts in 5.2 IP.

RHP Dayan Diaz (1.1 IP, H) earned the win for the Bats to improve to 4-1 on the year. RHP Kevin Shackleford (1.0 IP, K) tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his third save of the season.

The IronPigs tied it at two apiece with a pair of runs in the fourth via a two-out, two-run double from Cam Perkins (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI).

In the top of the sixth, the Pigs took a 3-2 lead for the time being as Cedric Hunter reached with a one-out single, advanced to second on a walk and scored on Perkins' two-out RBI single.

Bats starter John Lamb (n/d) was charged with the three runs on four hits while walking two and fanning 10 in 5.2 IP.

Louisville extended the lead to 5-3 with an insurance run in the eighth as Perez reached on a throwing error by LHP Elvis Araujo (1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 K) to start the inning, advanced to third on a single from Schebler and later scored on Winker's RBI groundout.

RHP Colton Murray (1.0 IP, K) had a scoreless outing in relief for manager Dave Brundage's squad.

The series continues on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. as RHP Phil Klein (1-0, 1.08) will be on the bump for the Pigs against Bats RHP Robert Stephenson (6-5, 3.83).