Mark Hardy and the TinCaps made quick work of Bowling Green.

Hardy pitched eight shutout innings as Fort Wayne advanced to the Eastern Division championship series with a 5-1 victory against the Hot Rods at Bowling Green (Ky.) Ballpark. The game last just 2 hours, 8 minutes.

Fort Wayne won the first round series 2-0. The TinCaps will meet Dayton or Lansing in the next round, which is also best-of-three. Lansing defeated Dayton 3-2 Friday to even their series at 1.

“I’m so happy for these guys,” TinCaps manager Shawn Wooten said in a phone interview. “They’ve put in the time. They’ve put in the effort.”

Hardy gave up four hits. He finished with seven strikeouts and no walks.

“He was outstanding. He threw strikes, attacked the zone,” Wooten said. “Had a good mix of pitches going with his slider and changeup. We got a quick lead and he attacked the zone. Any time you do that when you’re on the road, with the defense playing the way it’s been, it was a good combination for him tonight.”

Rymer Liriano provided the offensive support. The Midwest League MVP had three hits, including a two-run home run.

“He’s come into his own,” Wooten said. “A lot of times when you get in a playoff situation, an MVP could put a lot of pressure on himself to do more than what he needed to do. But he hasn’t. He’s been the same guy.”

Fort Wayne scored once in the first inning. Cory Spangenberg doubled, moved to third on a single by Liriano and scored on a wild pitch.

Liriano hit a two-run home run in the third inning.

Liriano doubled in the fifth inning. He later scored on a single by Luis Domoromo to extend the lead to 4-0.

Wes Cunningham led off the sixth inning for Fort Wayne with a double to left. Rocky Gale followed with a double to right, bringing home Cunningham for the TinCaps’ fifth run.

“I’m excited for these guys and what they’ve done and what they’ve accomplished this year,” Wooten said.