Late Rally Comes Up Short as Pelicans Sweep Mudcats

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Mario Feliciano broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth with a two-out RBI double, but the Pelicans answered with an opposite field two-run home run from D.J. Wilson and three runs overall off Matt Hardy in eighth while finishing a three game sweep of the Mudcats with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday night in Myrtle Beach.

The Mudcats (6-8, 45-38) were originally down 1-0 in the game before tying it in the sixth and later taking the lead in the eighth. The Pelicans (8-6, 29-52), however, quickly answered with Wilson's two-run home run in the eighth and another run scoring hit from Tyler Duran while taking a 4-2 lead late in the game.
All three Myrtle Beach runs in the eighth were either allowed in or charged to reliever Matt Hardy who ended up suffering his first loss of the season. Hardy (L, 7-1, 4.12) also took his third blown save while allowing three runs on three hits in the eighth. He also hit a batter and faced four while finishing without recording an out before leaving the game. Newly added reliever Anthony Bender finished the eighth and allowed an inherited runner to score on a RBI single to Tyler Durna. Bender also induced a double play while finishing the frame.
Reliever Erling Moreno earned the win for the Pelicans, but did so after allowing Carolina's go-ahead run across in the eighth on Feliciano's double. Moreno (W, 5-5, 6.75) started the eighth by walking Wes Rogers before allowing Feliciano's two-out run scoring double to left. 
Garrett Kelly (S, 4) later worked the ninth and pitched around a walk while allowing striking out one and earning his second save of the series with a scoreless final frame.
Erich Uelman started for the Pelicans and pitched into the sixth with one run allowed on four hits. He left the game with two outs in the sixth after allowing a hit to Feliciano, but that hit was the second allowed by Uelman in the inning as he also gave up a RBI single to Tristen Lutz. It was Ryan Aguilar who scored on Lutz's RBI hit as he reached on an error, stole second, reached third on a throwing error and scored to tie the game.
Noah Zavolas started for the Mudcats and pitched through another gem as he worked through the seventh with just one run allowed on four hits. Zavolas also walked two and struck out six while reaching 96 pitches (65 strikes) and pitching through his eighth quality start. He also picked off a runner in the third, giving him three pick offs on the season.
Feliciano had the only multi-hit game of the night for the Mudcats as he singled twice and had a RBI double in the game. The multi-hit game was his first since June 12. His RBI double, meanwhile, accounted for his 55th RBI of the season, second most in the league. 
Wilson's go-ahead home run in the eighth was his fourth of the season and put the Pelicans up for good in the game. Wilson went 1-for-3 out of the nine spot in the game for the Pelicans, Durna went 2-for-3 2 with a RBI and Zach Davis went 2-for-4.
The loss was Carolina's fourth straight, while the sweep was the club's second already in the second half. The Mudcats were also swept in three straight by the Down East Wood Ducks between June 24 and June 26 at Five County Stadium.
Wednesday's game was the finale in the series and the final game of Carolina's brief three game road trip. The Mudcats will next play at home on Independence Day at Five County Stadium against the Frederick Keys. Thursday's game will be the first of the Mudcats For America Series and will feature Carolina's postgame fireworks extravaganza show following the game.
The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio. The game will also stream live in full high-definition video on MiLB.tv via Minor League Baseball's subscription service.
Individual game tickets, season ticket plans, group ticket packages and the latest mini plans are all available now by visiting the Five County Stadium front office, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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