Sunday, June 19, 2005

W 6-3

Sevierville, TN --- Robert Andino had four hits and two RBI to support Scott Olsen with his sixth win as Carolina closed the first half with a 6-3 victory over Tennessee on Sunday, snapping the Mudcats' nine-game losing streak.

The Mudcats closed the first half 41-27, 2 1/2 games behind first half champ West Tenn.  The 41 wins were the fifth most in a single half in club history, and the highest total without bringing in a title. 

Olsen (W, 6-4) fanned nine over his seven innings, which featured Smokies runs in each of the first three innings.  However, Olsen retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced, striking out seven of those. 

Carolina held its first lead at the end of any inning during its losing streak, up 2-1 after an inning.  The Mudcats had trailed for 81 straight innings.

The Mudcats swiped a team-tying eight bases in eight attempts with Jeremy Hermida setting a club record with four in the game.

Chris Resop earned a two-inning save, fanning four to preserve the win.

Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, Jason Hill tied the game with a sacrifice fly, scoring Andino who had three singles and a double in the game.  The Mudcats went ahead 4-3 in the eighth on a bases-loaded sac fly by Drew Niles to deep center.  Andino drove a two-run single against the right field wall in the ninth for insurance runs against reliever Jesus Silva.

Carolina is off on Monday, and will begin the second half with 16 of its first 20 at home, opening with the Mississippi Braves on Tuesday night.  Yorman Bazardo (4-4, 4.02) is scheduled to start for Carolina.

CAROLINA            2 0 0   0 0 1   0 1 2   ---   6   10   1   8

TENNESSEE        1 1 1   0 0 0   0 0 0   ---   3    8    0   5

WP - Olsen (6-4)

LP - White (0-2)

S - Resop (15)

HR - None.

Time:  2:56

Att:  3,613