Mobile, AL - Bidding to become the Southern League's first repeat champion in 27 years, the Carolina Mudcats hammered out four home runs for an 11-3 Opening Day win in Mobile on Thursday night.

Joe Dillon (2-4, 2HR, 2RBI) homered twice, completing back-to-back first inning longballs after Jason Stokes (2-4, 2R, HR, 4RBI) cracked a three-run shot, while Josh Wilson (2-4, 2R, HR, 4RBI, SB) ignited a six-run ninth with an opposite-field grand slam.  Dillon, who missed all of 2003 after undergoing back surgery, hit the first pitch of the sixth inning over the left field wall. 

Last year's championship series MVP Trevor Hutchinson (W, 1-0, 5IP, 5H, 2ER, 1W, 3K)worked five innings, allowing five hits and two runs to earn the victory for the Mudcats (1-0).

Stokes, who led the Florida State League with 89 RBI last season, capped a four-RBI night with a final inning single. 

Hutchinson blanked the BayBears (0-1) into the fourth before allowing two runs on run-scoring extra-base hits by Ben Johnson and Jake Gautreau. 

After Dillon's second homer grew the lead to 5-2, Clint Sodowsky (ND, 1.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 0W, 2K) relieved Hutchinson with a perfect sixth frame.  Sodowsky then allowed three consecutive hits to open the seventh, including a ground-rule double for a run by Josh Carter bringing the BayBears to within 5-3.  Sodowsky fanned Nick Trzesniak looking before Jerrod Fuell entered the game for Carolina.  Fuell (ND, 1.2IP, 0H, 0R, 2W, 3K) walked pinch-hitter Greg Sain to fill the bases before striking out Todd Donovan and JJ Furmaniak to end the threat.

Pete Hartmann (ND, 1IP, 0H, 0R, 1W, 1K) pitched the ninth after the six-run Carolina top half.

Jimmy Goelz (3-5, R, 2B) had three hits including a fourth inning double.  Jim Kavourias (2-5, 2B) doubled and singled in his Double-A debut.

Nic Ungs, an 11-game winner last season starts Friday night for Carolina against Duncan McAdoo (6-8 in 2003).  First pitch at 8:05 PM ET.

CAROLINA        4 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 6   ---   11   15   1 

MOBILE            0 0 0   2 0 0   1 0 0   ---    3     8    0

WP - Hutchinson (1-0)

LP - Germano (0-1)

S - None.

Att:  4,713

Time:  3:04

HR - Stokes (1), Dillon 2 (2), Wilson (1).

Notes:  LHP Todd Moser was placed on the disabled list before Thursday's opener...  Carolina's season-opening win was its third in a row...  Mudcats manager Ron Hassey won his managerial debut... Wilson's grand slam marked the second consecutive season Carolina has hit a grand slam on Opening Day.  Miguel Cabrera hit one last season against Chattanooga... Closer Kevin Cave was warming in the bullpen anticipating a save chance in the bottom of the ninth with Carolina guarding a 5-3 lead.  Following Wilson's slam, Cave sat down and Hartmann began throwing... Sodowsky's relief appearance represented his first game in 10 months.  Sodowsky made five starts with Carolina in April, 2003 before a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque.  Sodowsky made three starts with the Isotopes before undergoing surgery on his right elbow, ending his season... CF Eric Reed attempted to bunt three times in Thursday's opener, twice being retired while bunting for a hit.  In Reed's final at-bat in the ninth inning, he bunted for a single while trying to sacrifice two runners ahead... Carolina's 4 HR fell one homer shy of tying the team record.  The Mudcats hit five July 21, 2002 at Tennessee.... The last time a Southern League champion repeated was in 1977 when Montgomery completed a three-peat, spanning 27 years.  Montgomery left the league in 1980.  Montgomery re-entered the Southern League Thursday night after a 24 year absence.