Zebulon, NC - Tennessee scored five early runs and cruised to a 7-3 victory over the Carolina Mudcats before 5,386 fans at Five County Stadium on Saturday night.

The Smokies (8-13) batted around as part of a three-run first inning against Peter Bauer (L, 5-7, 5ip, 9h, 5r, 4er, 2w, 1k). Tennessee added two more runs in the second for a 5-0 lead.

Jeff Inglin (HR, 4, 2-4, 2r, rbi) homered in the fourth while Chip Ambres (HR, 9, 1-4, r, rbi) in the sixth. Ryan Minor (1-3, 2b, rbi, sf) drilled a sacrifice fly later in the sixth as Carolina drew to within 6-3 but would get no closer.

Mike McNutt (ND, 2ip, 1h, 1r, 1er, 2w, 2k) allowed a solo homer to Corey Erickson in the sixth, the only hit McNutt would permit in two innings. Mike Flannery (ND, 2ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 0w, 0k) pitched a perfect eighth inning, then allowed a ninth inning run.

Chris Duncan went 4-4 with three RBI to lead the Smokies.

Carolina's four-game winning streak snapped, and the Mudcats fell 5 1/2 games behind Greenville and Chattanooga in the East.

Nic Ungs (5-5, 4.56) starts Sunday at 4:00 PM ET against Josh Axelson (4-4, 5,83) at Five County in the series finale.

Tennessee 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 --- 7 12 1 7
Carolina 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 --- 3 6 2 4

WP - Cook (5-3)
LP - Bauer (5-7)
S - Cali (12)

HR - Erickson (12), Inglin (4), Ambres (9)

Time: 2:29
Att: 5,386

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