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.
ZEBULON, N.C. -
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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