Nicasia Homers as Mudcats Win Second Straight

Nicasia, Areinamo, Avina and Vargas each had multi-hit games in Carolina's series-tying victory

Kay-Lan Nicasia - Carolina Mudcats (Credit: Neal Hock)

May 12, 2023

FBG: 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 10 1
CAR: 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 x 6 11 1

WP: Tanner Shears (1 - 0) LP: Pablo Aldonis (0 - 2) SV: Nick Merkel (1)

Manager Victor Estevez Post-Game Interview

ZEBULON, N.C. – Kay-Lan Nicasia went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the eighth, Jadher Areinamo went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead double in the fourth and both Jace Avina and Jheremy Vargas had two hits as the Carolina Mudcats clubbed their way to a series-tying 6-3 victory versus the Fredericksburg Nationals on Friday night at Five County Stadium.

The Mudcats (17-12) totaled 11 hits in the game while reaching double-digits in hits in a game for just the fourth time this season. The 11-hit night was also just the second time that the Mudcats had totaled 10 or more hits in a game since April 25.

The Nationals (10-19) originally led 1-0 in the first after getting a go-ahead RBI single from Sammy Infante off starter Aidan Maldonado. Carolina then tied it with a run in the last of the first when Daniel Guilarte singled, stole a bag and scored on a balk by FredNats stater Pablo Aldonis.

Fredericksburg scored again to take a 2-1 lead in the second, but Maldonado settled in and went on to record seven straight outs from the end of the second and into the fourth while going three and 2/3 innings overall. Maldonado finished his outing with five strikeouts, including four straight between the third and fourth innings.

Reliever Tanner Shears (W, 1-0) replaced Maldonado in the fourth and eventually earned the win after Carolina took the lead in the fourth and while holding Fredericksburg scoreless over two and 1/3 innings. Nick Merkel (S, 1) later worked the final three innings and allowed just one run and totaled a career-high seven strikeouts.

Carolina was down 2-1 after the second, but flipped the game around in the fourth after scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead. Areinamo drove in two of those three with a bases loaded ground rule double to deep right. Vargas then followed moments later with a RBI single.

The FredNats did manage to pull within one at 4-3 when Infante had his second run-scoring hit of the night in the seventh, but Nicasia and the Mudcats answered with two more runs in the last of the seventh while taking their 6-3 lead.

Nicasia started the seventh with a solo home run off Juan Abreu to lift Carolina to a 5-3 lead. Areinamo and Vargas both followed with hits to then set up Daniel Guilarte who lifted a sac fly to right to score Areinamo as the final run of the game.

With the victory, the Mudcats moved into a tie for first in the Carolina League North Division standings with the Down East Wood Ducks. The victory also lifted Carolina into a 2-2 tie in the current series versus Fredericksburg.

The current homestand next continues with UNC Health Johnston Souvenir Saturday featuring a reversible Pescados de Carolina souvenir bucket hat and WakeMed Five County Family Sunday with $7.00 Box Seat tickets and on-field post-game catch.

HOME RUNS:
Carolina: HR: Nicasia (1, 8th inning off Abreu, 0 on, 0 out).

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Infante, 2B (Fredericksburg): 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Witt, DH (Fredericksburg): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B
Lawson, SS (Fredericksburg): 2-for-3, 2 R,
Nicasia, RF (Carolina): 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Areinamo, 2B (Carolina): 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Avina, LF (Carolina): 2-for-4, 1 2B

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Lord (Fredericksburg): 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Shears (W, 1-0) (Carolina): 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Merkel (S, 1) (Carolina): 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO

SCORING:
Nationals 1st (Nationals 1, Mudcats 0) -- Brenner Cox grounds out, Jadher Areinamo to Jheremy Vargas. Cortland Lawson singles to left-center field. Daylen Lile strikes out swinging. Elijah Green singles to center field, Cortland Lawson to 2nd. Sammy Infante singles to left-center field, Cortland Lawson scores; Elijah Green to 3rd. Sammy Infante steals 2nd base. Branden Boissiere grounds out, Jadher Areinamo to Jheremy Vargas.
(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Mudcats 1st (Nationals 1, Mudcats 1) -- Daniel Guilarte singles up the middle. Luis Lara hit by pitch, Daniel Guilarte to 2nd. Jace Avina strikes out swinging. Matthew Wood flies out to Elijah Green. Daniel Guilarte steals 3rd base, Luis Lara steals 2nd base. Daniel Guilarte scores on a balk; Luis Lara advances to 3rd on a balk. Luke Adams strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Nationals 2nd (Nationals 2, Mudcats 1) -- Paul Witt singles to left field, Paul Witt advances to 2nd on fielding error by Jace Avina. Murphy Stehly singles to center field, Paul Witt scores. Murphy Stehly caught stealing 2nd base, Matthew Wood to Jadher Areinamo. Jose Colmenares flies out to Jace Avina. Brenner Cox bunt pops out to Luke Adams.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors, 0 LOB)

Mudcats 4th (Mudcats 4, Nationals 2) -- Matthew Wood flies out to Brenner Cox. Luke Adams walks. Gregory Barrios singles to deep second base, Luke Adams to 2nd. Kaylan Nicasia walks, Luke Adams to 3rd; Gregory Barrios to 2nd. Jadher Areinamo hits a ground rule double to right field, Luke Adams scores; Gregory Barrios scores; Kaylan Nicasia to 3rd. Jheremy Vargas singles to left field, Kaylan Nicasia scores; Jadher Areinamo to 3rd. Daniel Guilarte flies out to Brenner Cox. Luis Lara grounds out, Murphy Stehly to Branden Boissiere.
(3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Nationals 8th (Mudcats 4, Nationals 3) -- Cortland Lawson singles up the middle. Daylen Lile strikes out swinging. Elijah Green strikes out swinging. Sammy Infante doubles to left field, Cortland Lawson scores. Branden Boissiere strikes out swinging.
(1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Mudcats 8th (Mudcats 6, Nationals 3) -- Pitcher Change: Juan Abreu replaces Brad Lord. Kaylan Nicasia hits a home run to right field on a 3-2 pitch. Jadher Areinamo singles to center field. Jheremy Vargas singles to center field, Jadher Areinamo to 3rd. Daniel Guilarte out on a sacrifice fly to Brenner Cox, Jadher Areinamo scores. Jheremy Vargas caught stealing 2nd base, Jose Colmenares to Cortland Lawson. Luis Lara strikes out swinging.
(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)