Mudcats open home stand with 6-2 victory

ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg went 3-for-5 with a game tying double, Cooper Hummel had a go-ahead double in the seventh, Monte Harrison had three hits while scoring twice and Zack Brown worked through another quality outing as the Mudcats defeated the Keys 6-2 on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

The Mudcats (61-62, 25-30) fell behind early in Friday's home win after the Keys (58-64, 27-26) struck for two runs in the third. Carolina, however, bounced back with a run in the same inning and trailed 2-1 before later going ahead with a two-run seventh and then sealing the series opening victory with three runs in the eighth. The victory also ran Carolina's current win streak to three straight games.
Brown (2-0, 2.08) struck out five and allowed two runs on seven hits over seven full innings while earning his second straight victory with the Mudcats. He pitched through the seventh and left the game with the Mudcats down 2-1. Harrison, Erceg and Hummel flipped that deficit around quickly though in the Carolina half of the seventh after they each collected doubles and combined for two runs in the inning.
Harrison started Carolina's two run seventh with a double off the wall in left center and went on to steal third before scoring on a double from Erceg while tying the game at 2-2. Erceg's double also hit off the base of the left-center field wall and also came against reliever Jay Flaa. Harrison's run tied the game at 2-2 and Hummel's double later in the same frame off Flaa (3-3, 3.65) gave the Mudcats their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Caleb Whalen later started the Carolina eighth with a walk and was then able to score from third on a RBI single from Harrison. Later in the inning, both Corey Ray and Harrison came across to score when Weston Wilson forced in both runners from second and third with a two-out swinging bunt back to the mound. Reliever Alex Katz misplayed the comeback hit by Wilson and the resulting error allowed Harrison in from second. Wilson did get credit for a hit and was able to drive in Ray on the same play.
Harrison had three hits, scored twice, totaled two stolen bases and had a double in the Friday night home win in front of a crowd of 4.434 in Zebulon. Erceg also had a double and also had three hits while additionally driving in a run and scoring once for the Mudcats. Luis Aviles Jr. went 3-for-4 and Carolina also received multi-hit games from Wilson and Hummel as they both collected two hits.
Cody Sedlock started for Frederick and finished without a decision despite allowing just one run on eight hits over four and 2/3 innings pitched. Flaa took the loss after losing the lead in the seventh and giving up two runs on four hits. Katz pitched the Carolina eighth and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits.
Eric Hanhold pitched the final two frames for Carolina and earned his second save of the season after holding the Keys scoreless and to just one hit to finish the game. Hanhold (S, 2) also walked one and struck out two.
The Mudcats totaled 14 hits in the game and scored six times while winning their home stand and series opener against the Keys. The Carolina defense turned two double plays and the offense additionally totaled five steals in the victory.
UP NEXT: The series will continue on Saturday night with the first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium. The game will air 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 via video on MiLB.tv.
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