Wood Ducks Drop Finale With Mudcats

ZEBULON, NC - A lackluster outing by the offense stalled Down East's (11-11, 33-56) attempt at a series win over Carolina (11-12, 47-44) in a 4-1 defeat on Saturday night. Preston Scott homered while the Wood Ducks were down to their last strike for the only run.

Both starters began the game in strong fashion, only allowing one combined hit through four innings. Jonathan Hernández made his first start back from the Futures Game and struck out four working into the fifth inning.
The trouble was Mudcats starter Conor Harber carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The only baserunners for the Woodies were walks issued to Matt Lipka and Josh Altmann until the sixth.
Carolina was the first to get the offense going in the fifth inning with back-to-back doubles to open the frame. The hits would chase Hernandez from the game and bring in Tyler Ferguson. Later in the inning, runners reached second and third, and a two-out two-strike single by Jake Gatewood brought in a pair marking the score at 4-0.
With two outs in the sixth, Lipka lined the first hit of the game for the Wood Ducks on a liner to center, but he would be left stranded.
Ferguson would retire the last seven batters he faced in a row after entering in the fifth inning while not issuing a walk on the night as well. For the eighth Grant Zawadzki twirled two strikeouts for a scoreless frame.
In the bottom half, Down East was down to its final out when Scott emerged to pinch-hit. He worked the count from 1-2, to 3-2, before he laced an opposite field blast to right to avoid the shutout.
The Wood Ducks return home on Sunday to open a three-game set with the Frederick Keys. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (1-7, 4.31) will get the nod for the Woodies. He will be opposed by southpaw Brian Gonzalez (2-7, 5.74) for the Baltimore affiliates.
You can listen to every pitch of the 2017 season live on Sports/Talk 960 The Bull or streamed on the TuneIn Radio app.