Mud Hens sweep doubleheader

Toledo, OH - The Toledo Mud Hens swept the doubleheader in Iowa scoring 20 runs in 14 innings.

GAME ONE:

In game one of the doubleheader in Iowa, the Mud Hens defeated the ICubs in a 9-8 slugfest.

Nick Neidert was the starter for the ICubs in game one on the mound. Neidert retired the first two batters in the first inning quickly until Colt Keith roped a double to center field for the first hit of the game. Neidert was able to end the first inning without allowing a run.

Sawyer Gipson-Long was the starter on the mound for Mud Hens skipper Anthony Iapoce. Gipson-Long ended the first inning without allowing a run.

The scoring began in the top of the second inning for the Mud Hens. Wenceel Perez led off the inning with a single then advanced to the second on an error by right-fielder Alex Canario. Later in the inning, Perez was able to advance to third with two outs for Andrew Knapp. Knapp then singled over the short stops head for a single to give the Hens a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third inning, the Mud Hens put some runs on the board quickly. A single from Justyn-Henry Mally and then a double from Colt Keith put runners on second and third with no outs. Two batters later, Ryan Kreidler singled to score Malloy to put the Hens up 2-0. Following the single from Kreidler, Wenceel Perez singled to center field to score Keith. Joe Rizzo then followed Perez by roping a double to left-center field to score Kreidler and put runners back on second and third. With two outs in the inning, Andrew Knapp hit his second RBI single of the game to cap off a four-run third inning for the Mud Hens.

The ICubs now trailing 5-0 quickly sprung their offense to life after a lead-off home run from Chase Strumpf put them on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Back-to-back walks put runners on first and second with no outs. Matt Mervis roped a three-run home run to score the fourth run of the inning for ICubs and just like that the game was back to a one-run ball game after the Mud Hens held a 5-4 lead going to the fourth inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Mud Hens extended their slim lead. With runners on second and third, Ryan Kreidler lined an RBI single to put the Hens up 6-4 going to the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Mud Hens offense sparked again. With nobody on and two outs, Andrew Knapp singled to put himself on for Parker Meadows. Meadows then launched a two-run home run over the right field wall to extend the Mud Hens lead. Following Meadows' home run, Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a home run of his own to go back-to-back with Meadows and put the Mud Hens up 9-4.

Just as it seemed the Mud hens were pulling away, the ICubs came right back. Mud Hens starter Sawyer Gipson-Longgot into some trouble and put the first two runners on base in the inning. Gipson-Long bounced back by getting the next two batters to go down in order. Gipson-Long was pulled with two outs and the Mud Hens turned to Sam Clay from the bullpen to get the final out. Bryce Windham roped a double off the new pitcher and the cut the Mud Hens led down to 9-6. Sam Clay then walked the next batter he faced and the ICubs scored three runs in the inning to make it a 9-8 ball game.

Rony Garcia entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to pitch for the Mud Hens. The ICubs were able to get the tying run in scoring position, putting runners on second and third with one out. Alex Canario then grounded out to second base but scored the runner from third and the tying run advanced to third. Luckily for the Hens, they were able to get out of the inning stranding the tying run at third and taking a 9-8 lead to the seventh and final inning.

The Mud Hens went to the closer Miguel Diaz to secure the seven-inning win for the Mud Hens. Diaz retired the side in order to secure the 9-8 seven-inning victory for the Mud Hens.

GAME TWO

The Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Iowa Cubs 11-4 to secure the sweep of the doubleheader.

Parker Meadows kept his hot bat going by roping a triple to kick the game off in the top of the first inning. With one out in the inning, Colt Keith then singled up the middle to score Meadows and the game's first run.

Zach Logue made the start in game two for the Mud Hens and pitched a scoreless first inning to begin the game.

The ICubs went with a bullpen game for the nightcap of the doubleheader. Started the game with* Chris Clarke* then transitioned to Riley Martin with two outs in the second inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, Matt Mervis worked a walk then David Bote singled to put two runners on base with no outs. Alexander Canario then hit a three-run home run to give the ICubs a 3-1 lead after two.

The Mud Hens quickly responded in the top of the third inning. Wenceel Perez worked a walk to lead off the inning, then a one-out single from Eddys Leonard put runners on the corners. Michael Papierski then singled to center field to put a run on the board and make it a 3-2 ball game. Later in the inning, the Mud Hens would load the bases for Parker Meadows. Medows worked a walk to bring in a run to tie the game at three. With the bases still loaded, Justyn-Henry Malloy worked a walk and the Hens grabbed a 4-3 lead heading to the bottom of the third inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Mud Hens hot bats continued to hurt ICubs' pitching. Tyler Nevin roped a double to start the inning then Wenceel Perez doubled to score Nevin right after. With one out and Perez on second,* Michael Papierski* roped a two-run home run to go up 7-3.

In the top of the fifth inning, The Mud Hens loaded up the bases on three straight walks. Michael Paperski drew the fourth straight walk of the inning that scored Tyler Nevin. With the bases loaded and two outs, Parker Meadows hit a pop-up behind second base that would have ended the inning but a miss communication led to the ball being untouched and a bases-clearing double for Meadows. The Mud Hens took an 11-3 lead to the bottom of the fifth inning.

Mud Hens started Zach Louge's day and finished after pitching five strong innings for the Mud Hens. Blair Calvo entered the game from the bullpen and allowed one run to score after a bases-loaded single scored a run. The Hens went to seventh with an 11-4 lead.

Calvo pitched the seventh inning and pitched a scoreless frame to secure the 11-4 win and sweep of the doubleheader.