Mudcats slug their way to doubleheader sweep
ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg combined to go 3-for-6 with a three-run home run and four RBIs, Luis Aviles Jr. hit a two-run home run off Carlos Rodón and Weston Wilson was 2-for-3 with a two-run double as the Mudcats swept the Dash 6-3 and 4-3 in Tuesday's doubleheader at
ZEBULON, N.C. - Lucas Erceg combined to go 3-for-6 with a three-run home run and four RBIs, Luis Aviles Jr. hit a two-run home run off Carlos Rodón and Weston Wilson was 2-for-3 with a two-run double as the Mudcats swept the Dash 6-3 and 4-3 in Tuesday's doubleheader at Five County Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Mudcats (32-26) totaled five extra base hits, including Aviles' home run and doubles by Erceg, Troy Stokes Jr. and Wilson in game one of the doubleheader. Erceg also had a three-run home run in the game two and is now batting .371/.389/.543 (3 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI) over his last nine games.
Carolina finished a series sweep of the Dash (19-40) after taking both games of Tuesday's doubleheader. The Mudcats are now 9-1 overall versus the Dash this season, including a perfect 7-0 record against them in Zebulon. The Carolina victory was their third straight and kept them two back of first place Myrtle Beach in the first half standings.
Rehabbing big leaguer Carlos Rodón started for the Dash (19-40) in game one and took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits over three and 1/3 innings. Rodon (0-1, 13.50) also struck out six, walked two, allowed one home run and threw 71 pitches (43 strikes) in his first rehab appearance for Winston-Salem.
Trey Supak started for Carolina in game one and earned his first Carolina League victory after holding the Dash to just two runs and two hits over five innings pitched. He also walked three and struck out five.
Supak (1-0, 6.00) held the Dash without a hit through four and earned the win in his first home start for the Mudcats. He worked around two walks in the first while closing the frame with a 1-6-3 double play. He also finished the second with a double play flown into by Johan Cruz and pitched through a quick third before eventually walking one during a scoreless fourth. He eventually allowed a leadoff double in the fifth and gave up two runs in the frame before leaving the game.
Supak pitched through five and allowed just two runs on two hits and struck out five. He also walked three, with all three occurring over the first two frames, and threw 90 pitches (56 strikes) in the victory for Carolina.
Rodon opened his rehab start with three straight strikeouts in the first and did so with just 10 pitches. He struck out Corey Ray on three straight to start the game and then did the same to Troy Stokes Jr. before eventually needing four pitches to retire Isan Díaz.
Rodon struck out the side in the first, but the Mudcats bounced back by collecting three hits and scoring three runs in the second to take a 3-0 lead. They also scored a run in the third and added two more in the fourth and led 6-0 before the Dash eventually scored twice in the fifth and once more in the sixth.
Jake Gatewood started the second inning with a leadoff single and scored from first moments later on a double to center by Lucas Erceg. Luis Aviles Jr. then followed with a two-run home run to left and the Mudcats led 3-0 after two.
Carolina later took a 4-0 lead after Troy Stokes Jr. brought in Corey Ray from second with a hustle RBI double to left in the third. Weston Wilson had Carolina's big hit in the fourth as he drove in both Trent Clark and Max McDowell with a two-run, two-out double to right-center.
The Dash trailed 6-0 heading into the fifth of game one, but score twice in the fifth and once more in the sixth against Supak and reliever Brad Kuntz (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO). Louis Silverio doubled and scored a run in the fifth and was 1-for-2 in game one. Jake Fincher hit an inside-the-park home run off Supak in the fifth and Danny Mendick later drove in a run off Kuntz in the seventh with a two-out RBI single.
Like Supak in game one, Marcos Diplan (4-2, 5.03) also pitched through the fifth in the game two start for the Mudcats. He struck out seven, walked two and allowed three runs on six hits while earning his second straight victory.
Dane Dunning (2-1, 3.86) started game two for the Dash and took the tough luck loss after striking out 11 and allowing four unearned runs over five innings pitched. He also recorded nine of his 11 strikeouts over the first three innings of game two.
Dunning's first major mistake in the game came in the first when he gave up a three-run home run to Erceg with two-outs in the opening frame. The home run was Erceg's second off Dunning this season and his sixth overall this season.
Dunning also lost a 3-3 tie in the fifth after allowing Carlos Belonis to score from second on a wild pitch. Belonis was 1-for-2 in the doubleheader with the eventual game-winning run and an assist at home back in the second.
The Dash did originally lead first in game two after getting a run across against Diplan in the opening frame on a RBI double by Zack Collins. A fielding error by Isan Diaz in the second scored Winston-Salem's second run of the game and a RBI triple from Landon Lassiter in the fourth brought in their third to tie it in the fourth.
Winston-Salem was later held scoreless in the sixth by Wuilder Rodriguez and eventually left two on in the seventh as Nate Griep closed the game. Griep (S, 12) walked two, but eventually converted his tenth consecutive save while raising his season total to a league best 12 saves this year.
# # #
Pena Named Carolina League Player of the Week
ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina League announced Monday afternoon that Carolina Mudcats infielder Luis Pena has been named the League’s Player of the Week. Pena is coming off a week in which he posted a slash line of .412/.474/.882 (7-for-17) with two home runs, one triple, four RBI and two
Mudcats Earn Series Split with Fredericksburg
May 25, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 9 - Fredericksburg Nationals 1 Box Score FREDERICKSBURG, V.A. - The Carolina Mudcats scored seven runs in the seventh inning as they beat the Fredericksburg Nationals 9-1 to earn a series split on Sunday afternoon at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Carolina (29-15) came to the
Mudcats Down Fredericksburg in Extras
May 24, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 4 - Fredericksburg Nationals 3 (11) Box Score FREDERICKSBURG, V.A. - The Carolina Mudcats scored twice in the top of the 11th inning and held on in the bottom half as they turned back the Fredericksburg Nationals 4-3 on Saturday night at Virginia Credit Union
Mudcats Split Doubleheader Against Fredericksburg
May 23, 2025 Game 1: Fredericksburg Nationals 4 - Carolina Mudcats 3 (7) Box Score * Game 2: Carolina Mudcats 6 - Fredericksburg Nationals 3 (7)* Box Score FREDERICKSBURG, V.A. - The Carolina Mudcats split a doubleheader with the Fredericksburg Nationals on Friday night at Virginia Credit Union Stadium, dropping
Fredericksburg Rallies Past Mudcats
May 22, 2025 Fredericksburg Nationals 5 - Carolina Mudcats 4 Box Score FREDERICKSBURG, V.A. - The Fredericksburg Nationals scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and held on over the final three frame to defeat the Carolina Mudcats 5-4 on Thursday night at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Fredericksburg (19-21)
Mudcats Drop Series Opener at Fredericksburg
May 20, 2025 Fredericksburg Nationals 2 - Carolina Mudcats 0 Box Score FREDERICKSBURG, V.A. - The Fredericksburg Nationals scored twice in the fifth inning and made that lead hold up as they limited the Carolina Mudcats to just one hit and claimed the series opener 2-0 on Tuesday night at
Dinges Named Carolina League Player of the Week
ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina League announced Monday afternoon that Carolina Mudcats catcher Marco Dinges has been named the League’s Player of the Week for the second time this season. Dinges is coming off a week in which he posted a slash line of .412/.600/.824 (7-for-17) with two home runs,
Mudcats Claim Series Against Fayetteville
May 18, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 9 - Fayetteville Woodpeckers 5 Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats took the lead in the second inning and never trailed again as they took the series from the Fayetteville Woodpeckers with a 9-5 victory on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium. Carolina
Mudcats Fall to Fayetteville
May 17, 2025 Fayetteville Woodpeckers 18 - Carolina Mudcats 6 Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers jumped out to an 8-0 lead as they routed the Carolina Mudcats 18-6 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium. Fayetteville (19-19) scored four runs over the first two innings but would
Mudcats Rally Comes Up Short
May 16, 2025 Fayetteville Woodpeckers 5 - Carolina Mudcats 1 Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning but could not rally as the Fayetteville Woodpeckers held on for a 5-1 victory on Friday night at Five County Stadium.
Mudcats Sweep Doubleheader From Fayetteville
May 15, 2025 Game 1: Carolina Mudcats 4 - Fayetteville Woodpeckers 2 (7) Box Score * Game 2: Carolina Mudcats 10 - Fayetteville Woodpeckers 3 (7)* Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats got a pair of terrific starts from Melvin Hernandez and Bryan Rivera as they swept a
Late Longball Lifts Mudcats Past Fayetteville
May 14, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 8 - Fayetteville Woodpeckers 5 Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - Reece Walling delivered a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to help lift the Carolina Mudcats past the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 8-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium. Trailing 5-3
Mudcats Shutout By Kannapolis
May 11, 2025 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 3 - Carolina Mudcats 0 Box Score KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers claimed the series finale from the Carolina Mudcats with a 3-0 shutout victory on Sunday afternoon at Atrium Health Ballpark. Kannapolis (18-14) pushed across the first run of the game
Mudcats Blast Kannapolis
May 10, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 16 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 2 Box Score KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats took a commanding 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back as they soared past the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 16-2 on Saturday night at Atrium Health Ballpark. Carolina (22-9) took
Mudcats Split Doubleheader With Kannapolis
May 9, 2025 Game 1: Carolina Mudcats 5 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4 Box Score Game 2: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 5 - Carolina Mudcats 4 Box Score KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats earned a doubleheader split with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers winning the first game 5-4 and dropping the
Dinges Named Brewers Minor League Player of the Month
MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday named Carolina Mudcats catcher Marco Dinges the clubs Minor League Player of the Month for the Month of April. Dinges posted a slash line of .400/.523/.620 (20-for-50) with six doubles, one triple, one home run, 17 RBI and 10 runs over 15 games
Pitching Lifts Mudcats Past Kannapolis
May 7, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 1 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 0 Box Score KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats used three pitchers that combined on a five-hit shutout as the Mudcats defeated the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Atrium Health Ballpark. Carolina (20-8) scored the only run
Mudcats Rally Past Kannapolis in Extra Innings
May 6, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 6 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4 (11) Box Score KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats scored twice in the top of the 11th inning and held on in the bottom half of the frame to claim the series opener from the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 6-4
Mudcats Secure Walk-Off Win Over Myrtle Beach
May 3, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 4 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3 Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4-3 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium. With the tying run on base and no one
Mudcats Rally Comes Up Short
May 2, 2025 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 7 - Carolina Mudcats 6 Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats scored four times in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run at third as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans held on for a 7-6 on Friday night at Five
Myrtle Beach Beats Mudcats in Extra Innings
May 1, 2025 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 9 - Carolina Mudcats 6 (10) Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans scored three times in the top of the 10th inning to beat the Carolina Mudcats 9-6 on Thursday night at Five County Stadium. Myrtle Beach (9-15) came up to
Mudcats Rally Past Myrtle Beach in Extra Innings
April 30, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 7 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans 6 (11) Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - Jesus Made blasted a ball off the left field wall to cap a four-run 11th inning as the Carolina Mudcats stunned the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 7-6 on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium.
Mudcats Take Series Opener from Myrtle Beach
April 29, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 8 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans 6 Box Score ZEBULON, N.C. - The Carolina Mudcats used a four-run fourth inning to take a commanding lead and held on for victory Tuesday night as they beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 8-6 in the series lid-lifter at Five
Mudcats Beat Columbia In Series Finale
April 27, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 5 - Columbia Fireflies 2 Box Score COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Carolina Mudcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead and did not look back as they downed the Columbia Fireflies 5-2 on Sunday evening at Segra Park. Carolina (15-6) jumped out to an early lead
Mudcats Turn Back Columbia
April 26, 2025 Carolina Mudcats 11 - Columbia Fireflies 10 Box Score COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Carolina Mudcats pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning and held on to beat the Columbia Fireflies 11-10 on Saturday night at Segra Park. Trailing 10-9 in the