Mudcats win one, tie one against Cyclones

Monday night the Mudcats opened up a doubleheader with the Great Lakes Cyclones with a resounding 11-2 victory. Kyle Belger went five strong innings before Christian Bender came in to finish the game off. Hitting, defense and base running were also in top form as the Mudcats were hitting on all cylinders.

In the second game, the Mudcats got off to a rocky start, allowing four unearned runs in the first, followed by two more in the second. Despite being down early, they battled back, chipping away throughout the game until the fifth inning when, with the score 7-6 Cyclones, Jack Scribner scored from third as a batter was retired at first on a dropped third strike.

In the top of the sixth inning it looked like the Cyclones were going to break on top when they had runners on first and third with only one out, but Scribner made a leaping, twisting grab on a pop-up behind the infield and threw to pitcher Devyn Hadd to double the runner off first and end the inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Brian Caine reached first on a walk and stole second base. Johnny George then hit a screamer to center that just happened to be right at the center fielder, who made the play to end the inning. The umpires called the game on account of darkness and it was declared a 7-7 tie.

Tuesday night the Mudcats host the rival Grand Blanc Gladiators at Grand Blanc High School in a battle for first place in the Harwell Division of the Greater Flint Baseball League.