Both teams played a solid first four innings, as the offenses landed back-and-forth haymakers. The Bees struck for three runs immediately in the top of the first, but the Mudcats came right back with four runs of their own. After a scoreless second, the same thing happened in the third--the Bees scored three runs, but the 'Cats answered with four, as the rally started with two outs and no one on base. And after a scoreless fourth, it looked like the pattern might continue in the fifth...but then the wheels came off.
The Bees plated eight runs total and five runs with two outs in the fifth, as the All Blacks were unable to make that last defensive play to get off the field. The hard-hitting Bees, on their way to 21 hits, pounded out line drive after line drive, and outscored the homestanding All Blacks 10-1 over the final two innings while outhitting them 12-3 in that same span. Even Coach Jamie's attempt to class up the 'Cats a little by coming straight from the airport and coaching third base in khaki pants wasn't enough to reverse the mojo.
The loss completes the first half of the season, with the Mudcats standing at 4-3 overall. Second-half play begins on Saturday, with a 3 p.m. scheduled first pitch against the Thunder.
Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Asher singled to left and moved up to second when the ball was kicked around in left field. Gavin reached on a miscue in the infield, and then Colin smoked a single to center that scored Asher. Quenten crushed a double to left that scored Gavin, and then Cameron scored a pair with a two-RBI single.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 4, Bees 3
Third inning
It all happened with two outs and none on. Gavin started it with a single, then moved to second on Colin's single. Quenten smashed another double, scoring Gavin. Cameron picked up two more RBI on a double down the line in left. Brenner's line drive to the right side couldn't be fielded, and Cameron raced all the way around to score.
Score after two innings: Mudcats 8, Bees 6
Sixth inning
Quenten completed his 3-for-3 day with a single, moved to second on a fielder's choice, and scored on Brenner's deep single to center.
Score after six innings: Bees 16, Mudcats 9
Thursday's Web Gems
- Quenten made a pair of solid catches in the outfield, including an impressive play when he charged in from center and took control of a shallow pop-up, calling off the infielders to make the catch.
- In a 1-2-3 top of the second, Gavin got the second out by ranging far to his left, scooping up a grounder that was threatening to scoot through the middle, and firing to Asher at first for the second out.
- Asher used some kind of wizard trick to make a batted ball hit the Bee baserunner in the fourth, getting a free out for the Mudcats.
- Will made an aggressive play in left field in the fifth, keeping a hard-hit line drive in front of him on one hop and firing to the cutoff man to limit the Bee leadoff man to a single.
- Brenner and Brayden teamed up to get a 1-2 forceout at the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth.
| Thursday's line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Bees | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 21 |
| Mudcats | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 13 |
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