Zebulon, NC - Chip Ambres homered and doubled to lead Nic Ungs to his first victory of the season as Carolina defeated Greenville 4-3 in the series opener on Thursday night at Five County Stadium.

Ambres (HR, 1, 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 2RBI, K) connected for a two-run homer in the fifth against Dan Meyer (L, 0-1) to give the Mudcats a 4-1 lead.  Earlier in the inning, Billy Hall (1-3, R, 2B, K, SB, CS) dazzled fans stealing home on a pickoff throw to first base by Meyer, nosing out the throw from first baseman Napolean Calzado.

The Mudcats (14-13) tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth on a groundball double by Michael Tucker (1-4, 2B, RBI, 2K) to score Jason Stokes (0-3, R, W, K) from first base. 

Greenville (6-21), which dropped to 2-10 away from home, established a 1-0 lead against Ungs (W, 1-1, 6.1IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 1W, 8K) in the third inning on a single by Adam Stern.  The Braves, however, stranded runners at first and third.

Ungs needed relief help in the seventh inning after allowing three consecutive singles with one out, leading to two runs.  Todd Moser (ND, 0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 1W, 0K) entered to face two lefthanders, walking pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson to fill the bases, then retiring Stern on a force play at second base.  Jerrod Fuell (ND, 1.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0W, 1K) fanned Tony Pena Jr. with runners at first and third protecting a 4-3 lead.

Kevin Cave (S, 5, 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0W, 0K) worked a perfect ninth inning to record his fifth save.

Carolina starts Bill Murphy (2-1, 3.18) on Friday night against Greenville righthander Daniel Curtis (0-0, 3.00) at 7:15 PM ET at Five County Stadium.

Greenville        0 0 1   0 0 0   2 0 0   ---   3   7   2   5
Carolina          0 0 0   1 3 0   0 0 x   ---   4   6   0   5

WP - Ungs (1-1)
LP - Meyer (0-1)
S - Cave (5)

HR:  Ambres (1)
Time:  2:40
Att:  1,396