Lynchburg Hillcats storm back, defeat Carolina

The Lynchburg Hillcats scored three unanswered runs to take the opener from the Carolina Mudcats, 3-2, on Monday night.

The Hillcats (53-57, 24-19) were out-hit 6-5 by the Mudcats (54-57, 20-21), and won just their eighth game all season when recording less hits than their opponent.

Tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth, Tyler Friis drove an RBI single to center field, scoring Dillon Persinger to put Lynchburg in front. Persinger led off the frame with a walk off of Cody Beckman (Loss, 0-2), and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Anthony Miller.

Friis also knotted the game for the Hillcats in the seventh. Down 2-0, Nolan Jones singled with one out, and Miller singled with two away to extend the inning. Austen Wade walked, setting up Friis, who delivered a two-out, two-run single to even the score.

Prior to the seventh inning, Lynchburg had just one hit.

Carolina started the scoring in the second inning. Ryan Aguilar hit a solo home run, his fifth of the season, to give the Mudcats a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, the Milwaukee Brewers affiliate grabbed a 2-0 advantage after Demi Orimoloye hit a two-out RBI single.

Anderson Polanco started for Lynchburg and worked a season-high five innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out a season-best seven. Ben Krauth fired two scoreless innings and Nick Sandlin (Win, 1-0) worked a 1-2-3 eighth. Dalbert Siri (Save, 8) struck out the side in the ninth to nail down the win.

Mudcats starter Braden Webb allowed just one hit in six shutout innings, striking out eight. Alec Kenilvort gave up two runs in the seventh, before Beckman surrendered the winning run in the ninth.

The two teams will match up again tomorrow for the middle game of the three-game set. Right-hander Zach Plesac (8-4, 4.07) will start the game for Lynchburg, opposite of righty Alec Bettinger (1-2, 4.82) for Carolina.

Additionally, the Hillcats and Mudcats will resume the game that was suspended in Lynchburg on July 23. The game will pick up at 5:30 p.m. in the top of the sixth inning, with the Mudcats leading 5-0. Lynchburg will be the home team in that contest.

Following the completion, the clubs will play the regularly scheduled, nine-inning contest, that will start no earlier than 7 p.m.

Max Gun will be on the air at 5:20 p.m. with the Hillcats pre-game show on TuneIn Radio and the Radio434 App.

Lynchburg returns home on Friday, August 10, against the Down East Wood Ducks. It will Be Margaritaville Night, featuring a live cover band pre-game, as well as $8 beeritas and concession deals. There will also be a t-shirt giveaway to the first 1,000 fans.

For tickets or more information, visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, call 434-528-1144, or visit the City Stadium box office.