Hummel Hits Late Go-Ahead Homer as Mudcats Win Fifth Straight

ZEBULON, NC - Cooper Hummel hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh, Nathan Kirby pitched through four scoreless innings in relief and Luke Barker earned his 11th save of the season as the Mudcats won their fifth straight game 4-3 against the Keys on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

Carolina (10-5, 44-41) trailed 3-1 heading into their half of the seventh before coming back with three runs and two hits to take the lead for the first time in the game. The late three run rally came against Keys (3-12, 38-47) reliever Steven Klimek and included a run scoring sacrifice fly from Weston Wilson and Hummel's two-run homer to right. 
The home run was Hummel's fifth of the season and came in what was his second at-bat of the game. Hummel originally entered the game in place of outfielder Tucker Neuhaus who left during the fourth after being struck by a pitch from starter Zac Lowther in the third. 
Lowther worked through the fourth and had allowed just one run in the game before giving way to Klimek (2-1, 3.49) in the fifth. In all, Lowther scattered six hits, walked two and struck out seven while finishing without a decision. Klimek ended up with the loss despite first pitching through a scoreless fifth and sixth. 
Devin Williams started for Carolina and worked through two and a 1/3 while throwing 43 pitches. He gave up a two-run home run Collin Woody and a run scoring single to Cole Billingsley in the second while seeing the Keys take an early 3-0 lead. Reliever Alec Kenilvort eventually took over in place of Williams in the third and quickly retired two straight to end the frame with one inherited runner left on.
Tweet from @CarolinaMudcats: .@Weston_Wilson8 drove in two more runs, @CoopHUM came through in the clutch and once again, the bullpen was stellar as @leckenilvort @KathanNirby @Chino33____ and @Luke_Barker17 combined to toss 6.2 shutout innings to finish off a 4-3 win over the Keys. #MudcatsFUNWATCH: pic.twitter.com/H08troMxxp
The fourth inning then belonged to Kirby (2-4, 4.85) as he followed and pitched through four scoreless frames while earning the win. He allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out four while reaching 46 pitches (26 strikes) in his scoreless appearance for the Mudcats.
Carolina began its comeback with a two-out, run-scoring hit from Wilson in the third to cut the lead to 3-1, but did not score again until the seventh when they rallied for three to win it. Nattino Diplan pitched the eighth while holding the lead and Barker (S, 11) worked the ninth while earning the save. Diplan (H, 4) struck out two and Barker retired three straight on just four pitches to finish off the series clinching victory versus the Keys.
The home win stretched Carolina's winning streak to a season best five straight games. All five wins have come during their current seven game home stand which started with two straight wins versus Buies Creek and has now included three straight wins versus Frederick. The home stand, and current five game series with the Keys, will continue on Saturday evening at Five County Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com.
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