Zebulon, NC - Josh Wilson singled in Matt Demarco with the winning run in the last of the ninth as Carolina edged Jacksonville 8-7 at Five County Stadium on Monday night.

Wilson (3-5, r, 2rbi, w, k) softly lined a 2-2 pitch from Brian Steffek (L, 2-2) down the left field line to bring Demarco (2-4, r, 2b, 2rbi, hbp, gdp) home with a run that sent Carolina (31-27) into second place in the East with 12 games to play in the first half.

Carolina led 7-3 to begin the ninth when closer Randy Messenger (W, 5-0, 1ip, 4h, 4r, 4er, 0w, 1k) allowed four runs to tie the score.  Messenger surrendered four hits to the first five batters he faced, including a two-run double by Nick Alvarez to draw the Suns (30-27) to within 7-5.  Three pitches later, catcher Tom McGee connected for a game-tying two-run homer to left field. 

The Mudcats scored three in the third inning, batting around against Jacksonville starter TJ Nall.  Wilson hit an infield single behind second base to score starting pitcher Bill Murphy from third.  After Carolina loaded the bases, Pat Magness (0-4, w, 3k) bounced into a force at home on a 3-0 pitch, but was picked up when Chip Ambres (2-5, rbi, gdp) rolled a single to left to score a run.  Nall then drilled Demarco in the knee on a one-strike pitch to force in a run for a 3-0 lead.

Demarco doubled in a fifth inning run, driving a ball over Alvarez's head in left field to score Jason Stokes (2-3, 2r, 2ibb).

The Suns scored three in the sixth against Murphy (ND, 5.2ip, 4h, 3r, 3er, 2w, 6k) before Ruddy Lugo (ND, 2.1ip, 1h, 0r, 0w, 1k) entered with two outs in the inning.  Lugo permitted a double against the wall to his first batter before retiring the next seven hitters he faced.

In the Mudcats sixth, Carolina reestablished a four-run lead.  Lugo singled to begin the inning, followed by the third of Billy Hall's (3-5, r, 2rbi, w, k) three hits.  Josh Willingham (2-4, r, 2b, 2rbi, w, k) doubled to right-center to score two runs, then came in on a wild pitch from reliever Jose Rojas.

Carolina continues its homestand Tuesday night welcoming Tennessee in the first of four at 7:15 PM ET.  Ronald Belizario (2-4, 5.91) starts against Chris Narveson (0-6, 4.74).

Jacksonville        0 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 4   ---   7   9   1   3
Carolina             0 0 3   0 1 3   0 0 1   ---   8  16   0  13

WP - Messenger (5-0)
LP - Steffek (2-2)
S - None.

Time:  3:03
Att:  1,860