ZEBULON, N.C. - Monte Harrison, Luis Aviles Jr. and Cooper Hummel turned a 9-2-6-2 triple play in game one, but Lynchburg's Sicnarf Loopstok homered twice over both games as the visiting Hillcats swept Wednesday's doubleheader 7-1 and 3-2 at Five County Stadium.
ZEBULON, N.C. - Monte Harrison, Luis Aviles Jr. and Cooper Hummel turned a 9-2-6-2 triple play in game one, but Lynchburg's Sicnarf Loopstok homered twice over both games as the visiting Hillcats swept Wednesday's doubleheader 7-1 and 3-2 at Five County Stadium.
The Mudcats (56-58, 20-26) dropped to 10.5 games out of first in the second half standings and saw their losing streak run to four straight games after losing both games of Wednesday's twin bill.
The Hillcats (68-47, 28-18) were led by Loopstok who combined to go 3-for-6 with two home runs and three RBIs across both games of the doubleheader. Lynchburg also received a solid pitching performances from Triston McKenzie in game one and game two starter Nick Pasquale who held the Mudcats to just two runs on two hits over five innings pitched.
Carolina's triple play came in the sixth inning of game one after reliever Luke Barker inherited a bases loaded jam from starter Cody Ponce. The play started with Barker getting Jodd Carter to fly out to right and it then continued with Harrison firing in a one-hop throw to Hummel at the plate. Connor Marabell was at third for the Hillcats and had initially froze at third on Harrison's throw from right, but Loopstok, who had been at second then broke for third. Hummel relayed the ball to Aviles and the Carolina shortstop chased Loopstok down for the tag and second out near third base. Marabell then broke for home and Aviles made a spin throw to the plate to catch the lead runner while finishing the triple play.
The 9-2-6-2 triple play was the fifth triple play in Mudcats' team history and their first in the club's Carolina League era. It was also the first triple play of the year in the Carolina League.
Ponce (7-8, 3.75) started game one and held the visiting Hillcats scoreless over the first two frames before allowing two runs in the third and four two-out runs in the fourth. Ponce walked two, struck out two and allowed six runs (five earned) over five plus innings pitched and suffered the loss.
Both Carter and Willi Castro singled and scored in the two run third as the Hillcats took a 2-0 lead. Carter came across on wild pitch in the third and Castro scored on a two-out error by Ponce. The four run fourth included Loopstok's first home run of the night, a RBI single from Carter and a two-run home run from Daniel Salters later in the inning.
Lynchburg led 6-0 in the fourth, but Harrison managed to score the only Carolina run in game one after walking, advancing to third on a hit from Isan Díaz and then scoring on a wild pitch lost by McKenzie.
McKenzie (10-6, 3.56) pitched through five innings in game one and struck out eight, while walking two and allowing just one run on five hits. Relievers Ben Krauth and Kieran Lovegrove followed McKenzie and combined on two scoreless frames to finish the game one victory.
Game two of Wednesday's doubleheader was more of a pitcher's duel as Marcos Diplan and Pasquale (2-0, 1.80) both turned in solid outings for the Mudcats and Hillcats. Both starters were perfect over the first three frames of game two, but Diplan (6-7, 5.54) allowed three runs and two hits in the fourth while falling behind 3-0. Pasquale carried a no-hitter through the fourth, but later allowed two runs in the fifth.
Sam Haggerty led off the Lynchburg fourth with a triple and later scored on a RBI ground out from Willi Castro. Diplan then went on to walk Ka'ai Tom before giving up a two-run home run to Loopstok.
Diplan retired nine straight to begin game two and finished with just three runs on four hits in the loss. He also walked two and struck out seven.
The Mudcats were down 3-0 and had been held hitless through the fourth before getting two runs and two hits in the fifth against Pasquale. Luis Aviles Jr. and Max McDowell had back-to-back singles to break up Pasquale's no-hit bid. Both Aviles and McDowell later scored in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Jose Cuas and wild pitch respectively.
Carolina pulled within one of the lead late in game two, but left two on in the fifth, stranded two in the sixth and later left one on in the seventh.
Eric Hanhold pitched the final two frames for the Mudcats in game two and held the Hillcats scoreless while walking one and striking out two.
Argenis Angulo earned the save while holding the Mudcats scoreless over an inning and 2/3 for the Hillcats. Angulo (S, 15) struck out two and allowed one walk to finish game two.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats and Hillcats will continue the series on Thursday night at Five County Stadium. Thursday's game will feature Thirsty Thursday and a 7:00 p.m. first pitch. 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 at MiLB.tv.
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