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Pitching Leads the Way as Mussels Sweep Doubleheader

May 13, 2022

FORT MYERS, Fla (May 13, 2022) – The Mighty Mussels continued their winning streak, sweeping the Friday doubleheader against the Palm Beach Cardinals by scores of 3-0 and 3-2 respectively at Hammond Stadium. In game one, Hunter McMahon (1-0) earned the win in relief for Fort Myers (18-10) after a

FORT MYERS, Fla (May 13, 2022) – The Mighty Mussels continued their winning streak, sweeping the Friday doubleheader against the Palm Beach Cardinals by scores of 3-0 and 3-2 respectively at Hammond Stadium.

In game one, Hunter McMahon (1-0) earned the win in relief for Fort Myers (18-10) after a 54-minute rain delay, tossing three scoreless innings while striking out two. Juan Mendez fired two shutout innings, striking out three. Matthew Swain struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to earn his sixth save of the season.

Game two saw starter Mike Paredes throw three scoreless innings while striking out three. Jackson Hicks (2-1) earned the win after firing two scoreless innings, punching out four of the six batters he faced. John Wilson earned his first save in the season after tossing two innings, allowing two runs while fanning three.

Before the Cardinals (11-20) scored in the sixth inning of Game 2, Mussels’ pitching had spun 30 consecutive scoreless innings to begin the series.

The Mighty Mussels took an early lead in the first inning of game one after Noah Miller singled and Emmanuel Rodriguez walked before the delay. Upon the resumption of the game, Noah Cardenas walked and loaded the bases. Keoni Cavaco then ripped a first-pitch fastball to right field to score Miller and Rodriguez and make it 2-0.

In the fifth, Jake Rucker led off the inning with a single to center. After advancing to second, Rodriguez singled to center as Rucker came home from second to make the game 3-0.

To lead off game two, Rucker and Miller both walked. Then Rodriguez hit a fly ball to Palm Beach second baseman Ramon Mendoza, who lost the ball in the lights and allowed Rucker to score.

In the second, Mikey Perez hit a fly ball down the right field line that Patrick Romeri misplayed and allowed Perez to reach secnod. After Perez stole third, Dillon Tatum hit a long sacrifice fly to right to score Perez and extend the lead to 2-0. The next batter was Daniel Ozoria, who singled on a rope to right. He then stole second and scored on a single by Rucker to make it 3-0.

In the top of the sixth, Aaron McKeithan singled through the hole at second base for the Cardinals first hit of the game. After a single from Tyler Reichenborn, Osvaldo Tovalin singled to left and drove in the first run for the Cardinals. Brady Whalen then grounded to the right side and reached on an error as Reichenborn came home to score and inch Palm Beach closer at 3-2.

However, Wilson spun a scoreless seventh to seal the doubleheader sweep.

Having won five straight and seven out of eight, the Mighty Mussels will look to continue their winning ways at home against the Cardinals on Saturday. LHP Steve Hajjar (0-1, 3.77) takes the ball for Fort Myers, opposed by RHP Inohan Paniagua (1-2, 2.48). Coverage begins at 3:45 EDT on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.