Wilson Tallies Three Hits and Three Runs in 9-7 Loss to Lynchburg

ZEBULON, N.C. - Weston Wilson went 3-for-3 with three runs and Cooper Hummel went 2-for-4 with two doubles, but the Mudcats were defeated 9-7 in game one of a four game series against the visiting Hillcats on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

Lynchburg (13-9, 42-47) started the game with a lead off home run from Ernie Clement while taking an instant 1-0 lead on starter Braden Webb and the Mudcats (12-7, 46-45). Carolina quickly answered back with three runs in the second off starter Eli Morgan to take a 3-1 lead, but Lynchburg went on to rally for three runs in the third while taking a 4-3 lead. 
Hummel then pulled the Mudcats into a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the third with a RBI double that scored Wilson from first, but the Hillcats put up another three run frame in the fourth while taking a 7-4 lead on Webb (5-7, 4.22) and the Mudcats.
Carolina eventually made things interesting with two runs in the eighth, but ended up coming up short as the Hillcats opened the series with a 9-7 victory. The Hillcats totaled 12 hits in the game, including four doubles and two home runs. 
Webb allowed eight of Lynchburg's 12 hits and suffered the loss while also allowing seven of their nine runs. He stayed in the game through the third and faced four batters in the fourth, but left after allowing back-to-back run scoring doubles to Clement and Mitch Longo.
Morgan started for the Hillcats and ended up with a no-decision while allowing four runs on six hits over three innings pitched. He also walked one and struck out six. Three of his six strikeouts came in the first as he struck out the side to begin his start. Morgan was removed before the fourth and relievers Leando Linares (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO), Jared Robinson (2-2, 3.62, 2.0 IP, 1 BB), Micah Miniard (0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER 2 BB) and Dalbert Siri (S, 5)(1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 SO) worked the remainder of the game.
Clement led the way for the Hillcats as he fell a triple shy of the cycle while going 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs, two RBI and two walks in the game. Longo went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI and Trenton Brooks drove in two while going 2-for-5.
Wilson paced the Carolina offense while going 3-for-3 with three runs, a double and a walk in the loss. He sparked a three run Carolina second with a hustle double to left all while stretching his current hitting streak to 13 straight games. 
Devin Hairston had a RBI double in Carolina's three run second inning and went 1-for-5 while improving his hitting streak to nine straight games. Hummel went 2-for-4 with two doubles and both Ryan Aguilar and Dustin Houle drove in two runs each while both going 1-for-4.
Relievers Alec Kenilvort and Daniel Brown worked the final six innings of Friday's series opening loss and combined to allowed just two runs. Kenilvort took over for Webb in the fourth and worked through three scoreless frames with two walks and two strikeouts. Brown pitch the final three innings and allowed two runs while also walking three and totaling three strikeouts.
The Hillcats took game one of the four game set and own a 1-0 lead in the four game. The series will continue on Saturday night with the first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Five County Stadium. 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 be available via live streaming video at MiLB.tv. Tickets are available by visiting the Five County Stadium front office, by calling (919) 269-CATS (2287) and by visiting www.carolinamudcats.com/tickets.
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