Zebulon, NC - Carolina riddled the Jacksonville pitching staff for 17 hits for the second consecutive night, defeating the Suns 8-3 before 2,344 at Five County Stadium on Monday night.

Matt Demarco collected three hits while six other Mudcats had two apiece. Carolina (5-8) regained sole possession of third place in the East, trailing Greenville by 6 1/2 games.

Nic Ungs (W, 4-5) worked his longest start of the season, pitching 7 1/3 innings in earning his first win since May 21st. Ungs delivered two hits offensively, including a game-tying single in the third against Glenn Bott (L, 3-6).

Chip Ambres (HR, 8) and Jeff Inglin (HR, 3) hit solo homers to give Carolina leads of 1-0 and 4-3. Josh Willingham doubled home two in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Willingham, Billy Hall, Inglin, Ambres, Andy Rohleder and Ungs each had two hits. The Mudcats have had at least 12 hits in the last four games.

Randy Messenger (S, 9) fanned all five outs he recorded in earning his team-high ninth save. Messenger allowed consecutive singles to begin the ninth.

The rubber game of the series and homestand finale is Tuesday night at 7:15 PM ET. Peter Bauer (5-5, 3.83) starts against Jacksonville RH T J Nall (4-4, 3.59).

Jacksonville 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- 3 9 1 6
Carolina 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 3 x --- 8 17 0 10

WP - Ungs (4-5)
LP - Bott (3-6)
S - Messenger (9)

HR - Ambres (8), Inglin (3)

Time: 2:41
Att: 2,344

Notes: Ungs' win was his first in eight starts, spanning back to a May 21st win over Chattanooga.... Ungs did not walk a batter. He has matched his career-high with 23 walks in 94 innings... All nine Mudcats in the starting lineup had at least one hit.... With two hits by Ungs, Carolina pitchers have had four hits in the last two games. Bill Murphy, who leads the staff with 12 hits, singled twice Sunday night. Ungs has eight hits. The club record by a pitcher is 20 set last season by Donnie Bridges.

Box Score
Audio Broadcast