Hiura and Mudcats Open Series with 2-1 Walk-Off Victory

ZEBULON, N.C. - Keston Hiura broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth with a game winning, bases loaded single to right as the Mudcats defeated the Pelicans 2-1 in walk-off fashion on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium. The walk-off victory was Carolina's first of the season and came in front of an Education Day crowd of 5,688 in Zebulon.

Hiura went 1-for-4 in the game, with his lone hit coming as the game-winner against reliever Tyler Peyton and the visiting Pelicans (6-13). The Mudcats (10-9) lost a 1-0 lead in the eighth, but came back with the game-winner in the ninth while earning their first walk-off win of the season. Their ninth inning run in Wednesday's series opener was also their first run scored in the ninth in a game all season.
Peyton (1-1, 2.08) started the final frame by walking Weston Wilson before then seeing Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. reach on a bunt hit to first. Carlos Belonis then popped out on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt for the inning's first out, but a wild pitch moments later with Ryan Aguilar batting moved Wilson to third. 
Carolina had runners at the corners with one out in the ninth before Aviles eventually went up to second on defensive indifference. The Pelicans then opted to intentionally walk Aguilar to load the bases before facing Hiura who then singled in Wilson on a 0-2 pitch from Peyton.
Wilson walked twice and scored the game winning run while going 1-for-2 in the game. Aviles, who reached on a bunt hit in the ninth, had Carolina's only multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4 in the series opening victory.
Chase Williams pitched the ninth for the Mudcats and earned the win after working through a perfect frame with two strikeouts. Williams (2-1, 0.00) followed Miguel Sanchez who lost the tie in the eighth after giving up a run scoring single to Jhonny Pereda. Sanchez (BS, 2) worked through one full inning in relief of Victor Diaz and ended up allowing an inherited runner to score while also striking out two.
Nathan Kirby started the game for Carolina and worked into the third while holding the Pelicans without a hit and without a run. Kirby left the game after reaching 44 pitches and with two outs in the third inning. Diaz followed and went on two pitch through four and 1/3 innings before D.J. Wilson knocked him out of the game with a lead off single in the eighth. In all, Diaz struck out three, walked three and allowed a run on three hits in his appearance out of the bullpen.
Keegan Thompson started for the Pelicans and worked through five scoreless frames with just two hits allowed. Thompson had a no-hitter through the fourth, but lost it in the fifth after giving up a two-out single to Wilson. He also walked three and struck out three in his scoreless outing.
Reliever Wyatt Short followed Thompson and ended up allowing his first run of the season after giving up a two-out run scoring hit to Ronnie Gideon in the Carolina sixth. Gideon's hit scored Dallas Carroll after Carroll reached on a two-out walk and then stole second ahead of Gideon's hit. Short allowed just the one run on two hits over an inning and 2/3. He also walked two and struck out one.
The Mudcats left 11 men on base and were 3-for-9 in the series opening victory. Myrtle Beach, meanwhile, stranded seven and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the loss. 
Carolina and Myrtle Beach will continue the three game series on Thursday at Five County Stadium with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.. The Mudcats lead the series 1-0 and are currently 2-3 in their current seven game home stand. The doubleheader games will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM (joined in progress) and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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