Erceg and Clark power Mudcats to 4-1 win

ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg was 3-for-4 with a go-ahead RBI double, Trent Clark hit an opposite field two-run home run and pitchers Jordan Yamamoto, Brad Kuntz, Kodi Medeiros and Nate Griep combined to allow just one run as the Mudcats defeated the Pelicans 4-1 on Sunday night.

The Sunday night victory came in front of a crowd of 4,774 at Five County Stadium and gave the Mudcats (27-23) a two games to one series lead on the Pelicans (27-24) in the four game set. It also moved Carolina back to a half game ahead of Myrtle Beach for second place in the Carolina League Southern Division standings.
Thomas Hatch started for the Pelicans and struck out a career high 13, but took the tough luck loss after allowing three runs (two earned) over five and 1/3 innings pitched. Hatch (0-5, 5.19) also walked one and gave up six hits, including Erceg's go-ahead double in the sixth.
The game was locked up a 1-1 before Erceg drove in Jake Gatewood from first with an opposite field double to left with one out in the sixth. The double was Erceg's third hit of the night and it knocked Hatch out of the game. Casey Bloomquist followed out of the bullpen and fell into a full count before then giving up Clark's opposite field home run to left. The home run was Clark's fifith of the season and it put the Mudcats up 4-1.
Yamamoto started for Carolina and worked through four and 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, one walk and one run allowed on seven hits. He left before the Mudcats took the lead and did not earn a decision. Brad Kuntz followed Yamamoto in the fifth and retired the only batter he faced while keeping the game tied at 1-1 and stranding two inherited runners on base.
Medeiros (3-3, 5.04) followed both Yamamoto and Kuntz and pitched from the sixth through the eighth and into the ninth. He struck out seven, walked three and allowed just two hits over three and 1/3 innings while earning the win. 
Griep (S, 9) took over with one out in the ninth and earned the save while getting two outs and stranding one. He finished the game with a strikeout of Eloy Jiménez and earned his league leading ninth save of the season.
Carolina scored first in Sunday's game after getting a first inning run on a two-out RBI single to center from Gatewood. Troy Stokes Jr. walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by catcher P.J. Higgins in the first before scoring on Gatewood's single up the middle.
The Pelicans later tied the game in the fourth after collecting four hits and scoring once against Yamamoto. Jimenez singled to start the fourth and scored the only run of the game for the Pelicans when Jesse Hodges singled him in with a hit to center.
NOTES: Thomas Hatch struck out 13 in Sunday's game, finishing one shy of a Pelicans franchise record for strikeouts in a game… Lucas Erceg was 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. It was his first three hit game since April 14 and his first multi-hit game since May 2… The two teams combined to total 30 strikeouts in Sunday's game. Carolina's pitchers struck out 14 (Yamamoto: 6, Medeiros: 7, Griep 1) while the Pelicans combined for 16 strikeouts (Hatch: 13, Bloomquist: 3).
UP NEXT: The series will conclude on Monday with a 2:00 p.m. start time on Memorial Day at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats lead the series two games to one and will have Cody Ponce starting Monday's game as they look for a series victory. 
Admission for all active and retired military personnel is free with a valid military ID for Monday's Memorial Day game. The free ticket offer can be redeemed at the Five County Stadium Box Office.
The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio beginning at 1:45 p.m. It will also stream live via online video at MiLB.tv.
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