Jekyll and Hyde Mudcats Split Thursday Twin Bill

ZEBULON, N.C. - Cam Roegner turned his third quality start of the season and both Keston Hiura and Dallas Carroll scored three runs as the Mudcats took game one of Thursday's doubleheader with the visiting Pelicans 8-0, before later falling 8-1 in game two at Five County Stadium.

Game one of Thursday's twin bill began with Carroll reaching on an error, before then moving to second on a single from Hiura. Ronnie Gideon then singled in Carroll for the game's first run and a sacrifice fly from Ryan Aguilar a batter later plated the second. 
The Mudcats (11-10) led 2-0 after the first and added on four more runs (on six hits) in the third before scoring twice in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead. Jose Paulino started and allowed all eight Carolina runs (six earned) on 12 hits over four innings and took the loss for Myrtle Beach (7-14). Paulino (0-3, 10.59) also allowed a two-run double to Tucker Neuhaus and a run scoring triple to Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. in the third, before later giving up a RBI single to Gideon in the fourth.
Roegner (2-0, 0.83) took the strong run support provided to him and ran with it. In all, he scattered six hits and struck out three over six scoreless frames while earning his second victory of the season. He also turned his third quality start and his third shutout effort of the year. Alec Kenilvort later pitched the final frame for the Mudcats and ended up retiring the side in order on nine pitches (seven strikes) to finish the game.
Both Carroll and Hiura scored in the first and both would go on to score three times overall in game one of Thursday's twin bill. Carroll singled and scored a run in the third and singled again while scoring another run in the fourth while going 2-for-4 with three runs in the game. Hiura doubled and scored in the third and did the same in the fourth while going 3-for-4 with three runs and two doubles. Neuhaus was 1-for-4 and drove in three of Carolina's game one runs. Gideon went 2-for-4 and had two RBI.
Game two of Thursday's doubleheader began as a pitcher's duel as Carolina starter Conor Harber and Myrtle Beach starter Tyson Miller both carried no-hitters into the fourth. However, things got away from the Mudcats quickly as the Pelicans offense later came to life against the Carolina bullpen in Thursday's doubleheader and series finale. 
Miller (2-2, 3.15) lost his no-hit bid after giving up a one-out single to Neuhaus in the fourth. Overall, Miller went on to allow just one unearned run on two hits over six innings while earning the win. He walked one and struck out three while pitching to a 70 game score in his dominant victory.
Carolina's lone run in game two came across in the fourth when Hiura scored on a two-out roller to third hit by Gideon. Catcher P.J. Higgins attempted to retire Gideon at first on the softly hit ball to third, but missed high and the resulting error allowed Hiura to score as the first run of the game.
The Mudcats led 1-0 entering their half of the fifth, but that is when the Pelicans would finally find some success versus Harber (0-1, 2.41). Harber took his no-hit bid into the fifth, but lost it and the lead after giving up a two-out, infield single to Aramis Ademan and then a two-run home run to Conor Myers. 
The Myers home run put the Pelicans up 2-1 and knocked Harber out the game. Carolina's game two spot starter struck out five, walked four and allowed just two runs on two hits in four and 2/3 innings while suffering the loss. 
Luke Barker followed Harber and eventually got the Mudcats out of the fifth, before finding trouble in the sixth. Like Harber, Barker went on to walk four batters (setting a new career high) and wound up leaving the game with the bases loaded in the sixth. Nattino Diplan inherited the bases loaded jam and went on to give up a two-run double to Myers on the very first pitch he threw in the sixth. He then gave up a two-run double to Higgins and a RBI single to Vimael Machin.
In all, the Pelicans collected three straight two-out run scoring hits and totaled six runs on five hits overall in the sixth while taking an 8-0 lead. Myers led the way for Myrtle Beach as he went 2-for-5 with four RBI in Thursday's second game. Austin Upshaw was 2-for-4 in the game and Higgins went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Diplan eventually finished the sixth and ended up finishing the game as well. He worked through an inning and 1/3 overall and allowed two runs on five hits between the sixth and seventh innings. He also allowed three inherited runners to score after taking over in the game for Barker.
The 8-0 game one victory lifted the Mudcats into a two games to none series lead, they fell a game shy of a series sweep after dropping game two 8-1. Carolina did, however, earn the series win after taking two of three from the Pelicans. They also finished the seven game home stand at 3-4 overall.
The Mudcats next play on Friday night in Kinston as they begin a six game road trip with game one of three versus the Down East Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium. Carolina will have RHP Braden Webb (1-2, 8.68) on the mound in Friday's series opener against the Wood Ducks, while RHP Michael Matuella (0-2, 6.39) will start for Down East. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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