Mudcats End Skid with 7-0 Shutout Victory

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Conor Harber struck out five while pitching into the fifth and relievers Daniel Brown, Alec Crawford and Luke Barker combined on eight strikeouts while holding the Pelicans scoreless as the Mudcats snapped a six game losing streak with a 7-0 victory in Myrtle Beach on Thursday night.

The Mudcats (12-15) scored four runs in the third, two more in the sixth and once more in the eighth while taking the finale of the three game in shutout fashion. It was also Carolina's only victory of their six game road trip and the club's first since defeating the Pelicans (11-16) in game one of a doubleheader on April 26.
The four run Carolina third began with the first of two hits from Mitch Ghelfi and continued with Ghelfi swiping second before going to third on a throwing error by catcher Tyler Pearson. Carlos Belonis then walked and a force out hit into by Ryan Aguilar plated Ghelfi from third for the game's first run. 
Keston Hiura then hit into another force, but Belonis managed to score after stealing second earlier and coming in from third to put the Mudcats up 2-0. Dallas Carroll then walked, Ronnie Gideon came through with a RBI single and infield single from Tucker Neuhaus scored Carroll as the Mudcats took a 4-0 lead.
Myrtle Beach starter Bryan Hudson allowed all four Carolina runs in the third and ended up taking the loss. Hudson (2-3, 7.06) walked two, struck out two and gave up four hits in his start. Casey Bloomquist followed and finished the third and stranded two inherited runners in the process. In all, Bloomquist held Carolina scoreless over two and 1/3 innings and struck out four in his appearance. Bryan Clark saw two unearned runs score against him in the sixth and later gave up a RBI single to Carroll in the eighth. Clark pitched through two and 2/3 with five strikeouts and three runs (one earned) allowed on three this. Ryan Kellogg worked part of the eighth and ninth while holding Carolina scoreless.
Harber, meanwhile, started and pitched through four and 1/3 scoreless before hitting 88 pitches and leaving the game with two runners on base in the fifth. Brown (1-2, 6.97) followed and went on to strand both inherited runners and totaling four strikeouts over two and 2/3 innings pitched. Brown allowed just one hit between the fifth and seventh innings and ended up with his first win of the season.
Crawford and Barker then pitched the eighth and ninth respectively and also held the Pelicans scoreless. They both totaled two strikeouts apiece as the Mudcats struck out 13 against three walks in the losing streak snapping victory. 
The Carolina offense also totaled 13 strikeouts, but also scored seven runs on 10 hits in the victory. Hiura, Gideon, Neuhaus and Ghelfi each had two hits in the game. Carolina's one through five hitters also all totaled one RBI apiece in the game.
The victory brought the Mudcats into a 1-2 record in the series with the Pelicans and 1-5 overall in their road trip. The Mudcats next play on Friday night when they return home to Five County Stadium against the Down East Wood Ducks at 7:00 p.m. Friday's game will be the first of a three game home stand and will feature post-game fireworks presented by House Autry.
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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