Hiura and Carroll Have Career Nights in 9-6 Victory

ZEBULON, N.C. - Keston Hiura had a career high four hits and Dallas Carroll drove in a career high four runs as the Mudcats defeated the Wood Ducks 9-6 in front of a crowd of 5,464 at Five County Stadium on Friday night.

The Carolina (13-15) offense totaled 14 hits and scored nine runs in the series opening victory over the visiting Wood Ducks (14-14). Hiura had four of the 14 total hits, while Ryan Aguilar, Carroll, Weston Wilson and Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. all had two hits apiece as well. 
Michael Matuella started for the Wood Ducks and allowed six runs on 10 hits while taking the loss. Matuella (0-3, 10.61) also walked two and struck out two while falling to 0-3 on the season.
Hiura's big night featured a game tying home run in the first, a single and run scored in the third, another singled in the fourth and one last run scoring hit in the eighth as he went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBI for the Mudcats.
Carroll, meanwhile, tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the third, broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run single in the fourth and drove in Carolina's last run with a run scoring single in the eighth while going 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Carolina originally trailed early in the game after starter Marcos Diplan allowed a run and two hits in the first. They then came back with Hiura's homer in the bottom of the first, but the Wood Ducks went out in front again with two runs in the second while getting a two-run home run from Josh Altmann. The Carolina second included a run scoring sacrifice fly from Aviles, but the Woodies had a 3-2 lead in the game before the third.
Diplan went on to pitch a scoreless third and his club responded with two runs in the same frame while taking a 4-3 lead. Carroll had a sacrifice fly in the two run third and Wilson had a run scoring single.
Diplan lost the lead in the fourth after giving up a run and two Down East hits in what was his fourth and final inning of work. Miguel Sanchez followed and went on to allow just one run over the next two innings. Diplan struck out four, walked only one and allowed four runs on seven hits in his start. Sanchez gave up a home run to Altmann in the sixth, struck out three and allowed two hits over two innings.
Altmann went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI in the game for the Wood Ducks. His home run in the sixth cut the Carolina lead down to one at 6-5, but the Mudcats later scored three more times in the eighth while going up 9-5 in the eighth.
Carolina's three run eighth included a RBI triple from Aguilar, a run scoring hit from Hiura and one last run scoring hit from Carroll. 
All three eighth inning runs were allowed by reliever Jacob Shortslef as he worked just the one inning with three runs allowed on four hits. He was preceded by Jairo Beras who worked through two and 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Sanchez (1-0, 2.84) earned the win for Carolina after working through two scoreless frames. He allowed just the one run on two hits and struck out three for the Mudcats. Alec Kenilvort later pitched from the seventh and into the ninth before allowing a Down East run in the final frame. He left with one out in the ninth and Luke Barker went on to finish the game while earning his first save of the season. Kenilvort struck out three and allowed one unearned run on one hit. Barker struck out one as well and also did not allow a run. The Carolina bullpen combined on seven strikeouts against no walks in the game. 
The series will continue on Saturday night with the first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. Saturday's game will feature a pitching match-up of RHP Trey Supak (1-1, 1.78) going for the Mudcats against Down East RHP Walker Weickel (0-2, 6.50). The Mudcats lead the three game series 1-0, but are just 1-3 overall against the Wood Ducks this season.
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 on MiLB.tv.
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