Tampa Bay recruit Niko Hulsizer was the star turn when Perth Heat held out Geelong-Korea 12-9 at Perth Harley Davidson Ballpark on Thursday night.

Hulsizer had his best game for Perth’s Australian Baseball League club, finishing with four massive hits and four runs from as many at bats as the Heat blasted in 12 unanswered runs to claim the game.

The American’s explosive form was timely, helping Perth recover from a sluggish start to post their ninth win for the 2019/20 season.

Perth looked shaky when conceding five runs in the second inning, Hulsizer’s booming home run in the third setting up three consecutive three-run innings.

Each of the Heat’s hitters finished with at least one on the night, six adding runs for the league’s most successful franchise.

Three of Geelong-Korea’s five second inning runs were earned off Perth starting pitcher Dylan Unsworth.

The South African recruit had allowed just four earned runs in his previous three starts, working his way back into the game to finish with six strikeouts in seven innings.

Replacement pitcher Carlos Garcia snared four strikeouts in two innings.