Jackson, TN - Carolina assailed five West Tenn pitchers for 18 hits, leading to a 10-4 series-splitting victory at Pringles Park on Monday night.

Chip Ambres (4-5, 3r, 2b, hr, rbi, sb) had his second four-hit game of the year, while Billy Hall (3-3, 3r, 2-2b, 2rbi, w, sb) and Andy Rohleder (3-5, r, k) each collected three hits for the Mudcats, who matched their season high in hits.

The Mudcats (23-26, 60-59) drilled Diamond Jaxx starter Carmen Pignatiello (L, 6-7) for nine runs within the first three innings. Pignatiello made 36 pitches in the first inning alone, allowing an RBI-single to Jeff Inglin (2-3, r, 3rbi, sf, 2w, k) and a sacrifice fly to Ryan Minor (HR, 6, 1-4, r, 3rbi, sf). 

In the second, Ambres began his four-hit night with a double, then scored on a double barely inside the right-field line by Matt Demarco (2-5, 2b, rbi, w, k, gdp). Hall, who walked, scored on a sacrifice fly by Minor.

Leading 4-0 in the third, the Mudcats knocked Pignatiello out with five more runs. Minor clubbed a two-run homer to center, Hall doubled in two and scored on a sacrifice fly from Inglin.

Jeff Fulchino (W, 5-5, 5ip, 7h, 2r, 2er, 3w, 6k) was the recipient of Carolina's largest offensive output in a win since June 3rd. Fulchino pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the second, and labored through 100 pitches in five innings to earn his second consecutive win on the road trip.

Ambres, who singled in the third and eighth, hit his career-best 14th homer in the fifth inning against reliever Hugo Castellanos. 

Brian Strelitz (ND, 2ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 0w, 1k) worked two innings before Pat Flury (ND, 2ip, 1h, 1r, 1er, 2w, 2k) threw the final two innings to close out the victory.

Carolina arrived in Birmingham, AL around 3:00 AM Central time to begin its final leg on its 12-game road trip. The Mudcats remain 11 games behind Chattanooga in the East with 22 to play. The 5-3 road swing continues Tuesday night with Peter Bauer (5-9, 4.45) starting against Brandon McCarthy, who will make his Double-A debut at 8:00 PM ET.

Carolina 2 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 --- 10 18 0 11
West Tenn 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 --- 4 10 0 12

WP - Fulchino (5-5)
LP - Pignatiello (6-7)
S - None.

HR - Minor (6), Ambres (14), Craig (18)

Time: 3:19
Att: 1,376

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