Zebulon, NC - Josh Willingham hit a game-winning home run leading off the ninth inning as Carolina stormed past Tennessee 8-7 on Tuesday night before 2,124 fans at Five County Stadium.

Carolina (25-21), overtook sole possession of second place in the East, trailing first-place Chattanooga by one game.

Consecutive homers by Chris Duncan and Gabe Johnson gave the Smokies (23-23) a 7-2 lead in the top of the eighth, but a Matt Demarco three-run double in the bottom half fueled a five-run rally for the tie. 

Andy Cavazos faced six batters in the eighth inning, permitting a walk and two hits, including the bases-clearing hit to Demarco.  Summoned from the bullpen, closer Evan Rust (L, 2-1) allowed the next four Mudcats to reach, including RBI-singles to Eric Reed and Josh Wilson to knot the game.

Randy Messenger (W, 2-0) fanned two batters in the ninth sandwiched around a caught stealing of John Nelson to precede Willingham's heroics.

On the fifth pitch of the ninth, Willingham laced a shot against the screen below the left-field scoreboard, circled the bases, then was mobbed by his team surrounding home plate as the Mudcats took three of four from Tennessee in the series.

Jeff Fulchino made his Double-A debut allowing five hits and five walks in five innings.  The Smokies scored five runs against Fulchino, all with two outs.  Fulchino whiffed six hitters in his no-decision.

Jason Stokes clobbered his league-best 14th homer in the sixth inning, his third in the last four games.

Carolina travels to West-leading West Tenn for a four-game series which begins at 7:35 PM ET Thursday night at Pringles Park.  Nic Ungs (3-1, 2.92) starts for Carolina against the Diamond Jaxx Sean Marshall (0-1, 7.56).

Tennessee        0 0 4   1 0 0   0 2 0   ---   7   8   1   6
Carolina            0 1 0   0 0 1   0 5 1   ---   8  11  1   9 

WP - Messenger (2-0)

LP - Rust (2-1)

S - None.

HR - Stokes (14), Willingham (9), Duncan 2 (5), Johnson (8)

Time:  3:11
Att:  2,124