ZEBULON, N.C. - Cooper Hummel came through with a game tying RBI single with two outs in the ninth and Tucker Neuhaus delivered a walk-off single with the bases loaded in the tenth as the Mudcats defeated the visiting Wood Ducks 2-1 in ten innings on Wednesday afternoon at Five
ZEBULON, N.C. - Cooper Hummel came through with a game tying RBI single with two outs in the ninth and Tucker Neuhaus delivered a walk-off single with the bases loaded in the tenth as the Mudcats defeated the visiting Wood Ducks 2-1 in ten innings on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium.
The Wood Ducks (26-20) originally led 1-0 in the game after getting a run across in the fourth and had led all the way into the ninth before Hummel notched his clutch game tying RBI single to right. Weston Wilson started the Carolina (23-23) ninth with a double off the right field wall and later scored from second on Hummel's two-out single to tie the game and force extras.
Reliever Jacob Lemoine pitched the ninth and tenth innings for the Wood Ducks and ended up with the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over the final two innings. Lemoine (BS, 1-2, 4.05) lost a 1-0 lead in the ninth after giving up Wilson's lead off double and Hummel's game tying, two-out hit. He also allowed Neuhaus' game winning single with the bases loaded in the tenth while taking the loss.
Carolina's Luke Barker earned the win and did so despite inheriting a bases loaded jam in the tenth from fellow reliever Daniel Brown. Barker (2-0, 2.16) threw just three pitches and managed to get the Mudcats through a scoreless tenth after getting Alex Kowalczyk to ground in to an inning ending double play.
Carolina's tenth inning started with pinch-runner Carlos Belonis at second and continued with Rob Henry pushing Belonis to third and then reaching on a fielder's choice. The Wood Ducks attempted to catch Belonis at third on Henry's bunt, but the speedy pinch-runner beat the throw to then set up a first and third scenario for Dallas Carroll. Lemoine went on to retire Carroll on strikes, but then intentionally walked Keston Hiura (after Henry went to second on defensive indifference) before facing Neuhaus. Neuhaus then delivered his game-winning single to left-center while leading the Mudcats to their third walk-off win of the season.
Jonathan Hernandez started for the Wood Ducks and struck out 10 over six scoreless innings. He also allowed two hits and walked two while working through the sixth and pitching to a 78 game score.
Braden Webb started for Carolina and ended up allowing just one run on three hits over five and 1/3 innings. Webb walked three, struck out five and reached 93 pitches (57 strikes) while pitching to a season high 62 game score.
The lone Down East run came in the fourth when Webb misplayed a double play ball hit by Chuck Leblanc. The misplay allowed Anderson Tejeda in to score from third and gave the Wood Ducks the 1-0 lead. Webb went on to work his way through the rest of the fourth after getting a successful double play turn made behind him and another groundout to end the inning.
The 1-0 Down East lead held through the eighth as Hernandez cruised his way through six scoreless frames before giving way to relievers Anthony Gose and Jacob Shortslef. Gose struck out two and walked one over a scoreless seventh and Shortslef worked around a leadoff walk while holding Carolina scoreless in the eighth.
Reliever Conor Harber also came through in a big way for Carolina as he followed Webb and kept the visiting Wood Ducks at bay. Harber worked through two and 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. He also walked three and struck out two in his appearance. Brown followed and ended up working through a scoreless ninth before later leaving with one out in the tenth. Brown did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out two in the game.
The victory lifted the Mudcats into a two games to one lead in the four game set. It also brought them back into a .500 record at 23-23 on the season.
Carolina's four game series with the Wood Ducks will conclude on Thursday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The Carolina League's earned run average leader, LHP Cam Roegner will have the start for the Mudcats in Thursday's series finale. Roegner will look to lead his club to a series clinching victory and his sixth win overall this season. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com. It will also stream via live video on MiLB.tv.
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