Supak and Neuhaus Lead Mudcats in 5-3 Victory

ZEBULON, N.C. - Trey Supak allowed just one run over seven quality innings pitched, Tucker Neuhaus scored three runs and Weston Wilson drove in two runs as the Mudcats earned a series opening 5-3 victory versus the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.

The victory lifted the Mudcats (16-18) into a 1-0 lead in the four game set and to 3-1 overall on the season against the Blue Rocks (14-19). The home stand opening victory also featured a one hour and 18 minute rain delay in the eighth.
It was Neuhaus who got the Mudcats going early with a two-out double in the first before scoring two batters later on a run scoring single to center from Cooper Hummel. 
Carolina had a 1-0 lead until Xavier Fernández came through with a solo home run off Supak in the second to tie the game. It was just the second home run allowed by Supak this season and ended up being the only run he allowed in the game as well.
Supak worked through seven full innings for the first time this season and allowed just one run on seven hits. He also struck out four, walked one and reached 88 pitches (56 strikes) while earning his second win of the season and pitching to a 61 game score.
The Mudcats later broke the tie and gave their starter a lead to work with once again in the third after Neuhaus walked and scored on a bases loaded sacrifice fly from Wilson. They then added two more runs in the fifth when Dallas Carroll brought in Keston Hiura with a sacrifice fly and Wilson struck again to score Neuhaus with a run scoring double.
Neuhaus led the way for the Carolina offense by going 2-for-3 with three runs, a double and a walk in the game. Wilson also had a big night after going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
Blue Rocks starter Ofriedy Gomez allowed all four Carolina runs and did so while giving up six hits over four and 2/3 innings pitched. Gomez (1-3, 5.40) also walked three and struck out two in the loss. Wilmington later used releivers Anthony Bender (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO) and Justin Camp (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) in the game.
The Mudcats led 4-1 lead when Supak left after the seventh and before the one hour and 18 minute delay that halted the game in the eighth. Nattino Diplan followed Supak and started the eighth by walking D.J. Burt before seeing Gabriel Cancel reach on an error. Diplan then faced Khalil Lee and worked him into a full count before the rain arrived and play was stopped. 
Alec Crawford took over in place of Diplan once the game resumed and struck out Lee for the inning's first out. Emmanuel Rivera, however, followed with a run scoring double, but Crawford eventually got out of the frame while holding the Carolina lead. Diplan (0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER) ended up facing two batters in the eighth and saw both score following the delay.
The Blue Rocks managed to cut the lead to 4-3 with their two runs in the eighth, but the Mudcats rallied for one more in the last of the eighth to go up 5-3 in the game. Their final run scored on a bases loaded wild pitch lost by reliever Justin Camp. The wild pitch scored Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. who had reached on a bunt hit early in the inning.
Crawford (S, 1) then went on to pitch through a scoreless ninth while earning his first save of the season. He also struck out one, walked one, allowed one hit and allowed two inherited runners to score while finishing the game.
The series will continue on Friday night at Five County Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday's game will feature post-game fireworks presented by House Autry and will be the start of Brewers Weekend presented by Walmart 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 high-definition video at MiLB.tv.
# # #