In a somewhat odd situation, the 'Cats didn't particularly play all that well--and weren't even that consistent on defense--but they did make the plays when they had to. They recorded two force outs at second from the outfield (a defensive emphasis that had been discussed before the game), got a couple of scoops at various bases in the infield, and then clinched the victory when Brenner and Gavin teamed up on a game-ending double play. The All Blacks also posted their first clean 1-2-3 inning of the season in the fourth, and they did it the hard way--going through the 3-4-5 hitters in the Thunder order.
Offensively, the spark came from the middle and bottom of the order, as Jackson and Cameron combined to drive in five of the Mudcats' six runs, and Brayden blasted one of the hardest-hit balls of the season in the fifth and turned it into a double.
A victory meant helmet stickers for everyone, and the Mudcats will get a fast chance to work on the things they need to improve, as the next practice is Wednesday night from 6:30-8 at Lexie Lane.
Tuesday's Mudcat scoring plays
Second inning
Luke led off with a line drive single back through the middle, and Channing reached on a hard grounder to third. Cameron picked up the first Mudcat RBI with a single through the left side, and then Jackson drove in a pair with a one-out single up the middle.
Score after two innings: Mudcats 3, Thunder 2
Third inning
Asher singled and then went to third on Gavin's single. Quenten brought the run home with a grounder back through the middle.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 4, Thunder 2
Fourth inning
Luke drilled a leadoff single, then hustled all the way around to third on Channing's hard-hit ball to third. With two on, Cameron came through again, this time with a single to left-center. Jackson picked up a big two-out RBI that provided a little breathing run, scoring Channing.
Score after four innings: Mudcats 6, Thunder 2
Tuesday's Web Gems
- Quenten turned in two solid plays in center field in the first inning, limiting what could have been a huge Thunder inning to just two runs. He snagged a fly ball for the inning's first out, then came in and speared a line drive for the second out of the frame.
- Another Thunder threat was snuffed in the second, as they had two runners on and two outs, but Brenner picked up a grounder at pitcher and threw to Asher at first, who scooped up the throw to end the inning and leave the Thunder scoreless in the second.
- Channing ending the third by doing exactly what the Mudcats had talked about before the game--charging in hard on a grounder to the outfield, picking it up cleanly and firing to second to get the force.
- Suitably inspired, Colin duplicated the feat in the fifth, getting the first out of the inning by hustling in from center to stop a hot grounder. His throw was dug out by Luke on a very nice play to get the force at second.
- Gavin went into the hole in the sixth to stop a hot grounder and get the force at second in what turned out to be a big play, because every out was very precious in that final frame.
- The SportsCenter top 10 nominee of the night came on the game's final play. The Thunder's number-two hitter lifted a looping liner that looked like it might sneak over Brenner's head. But Double-B drifted back, made the catch, and fired to Gavin at second for the game-ending double play.
| Tuesday's line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Thunder | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Mudcats | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | X | 6 | 19 |
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