Carolina Mudcats nip Lynchburg Hillcats, 1-0

Connor Lien singled to start the game and came home to score by advancing home on a steal by Keith Curcio as the Carolina Mudcats defeated Lynchburg 1-0 on Friday night at City Stadium. Hillcats pitcher Jayson Aquino turned in a quality start but earned his third loss as a Hillcat.

 

STEAL IT AWAY

Connor Lien led off the game with a single for Carolina, and Keith Curcio did the same in the next at-bat to advance Lien to third. Curcio attempted to steal second base but was caught in a rundown and Lien, taking advantage of a distracted Hillcats defense, took off for home and beat out a throw by Ivan Castillo to give the Muddies a 1-0 lead.

 

HARD LUCK FOR AQUINO

Hillcats pitcher Jayson Aquino got the call for the Hillcats on Friday night on the heels of an 8 2/3 scoreless innings performance in his last start, coincidentally against Carolina. Aquino pitched six complete innings for the Hillcats on Friday and allowed just one run on five hits while walking and striking out one. Although Aquino received the loss, his ERA dropped from 2.67 down to 2.45. The Hillcats offense has given Aquino just eight runs of in-game run support through his six starts.

 

KEEPING UP WITH THE CATS

Lynchburg committed two errors in the loss to Carolina…During the current five-game losing streak, the Hillcats have committed eight total errors for an average of 1.6 miscues per contest…This season, Lynchburg has committed a league-high 146 errors for an average of 1.07 per game…The loss marks the first five-game losing streak for the Hillcats since they lost five in a row by losing the final two games of the first half and the first three games of the second half spanning from June 20-June 27.

 

UP NEXT

Lynchburg looks to get back in the win column against the Carolina Mudcats on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. It will be Fan Appreciation Night at City Stadium as well as a Fireworks Nights presented by RidgeView Dermatology. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Fans can tune in to the action on ESPN Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com beginning at 6:10 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.