Mudcats hooked by Dash, 8-7

WINSTON-SALEM – The Winston-Salem Dash and Carolina Mudcats went back and forth all night, but the Dash had the final say in an 8-7 triumph at BB&T Ballpark on Friday night.

A crowd of 5,524 saw the teams swap the lead four times throughout the night. Chris Bassitt (1-1) picked up the win in relief, despite allowing a two-run homer in the eighth. Shawn Armstrong (0-2) takes the heartbreaking loss after bringing the go-ahead run on a hit-by-pitch.

Winston-Salem struck first for a run in the first inning against starter Will Roberts. After the first two hitters reached, Dan Black drove in the run on a ground ball to short.

Carolina retaliated quickly in the second inning, tying the game on Jeremie Tice’s Carolina League-leading 11th home run of the year. This one a solo shot over center. Carlos Moncrief walked and scored on a two-out single by Tyler Cannon for a 2-1 Mudcats lead.

The Mudcats added to the advantage with a solo homer by Moncrief in the fourth inning. Tony Wolters tripled and scored on a passed ball in the fifth for a 4-1 lead.

Needing a momentum swing, Nick Ciolli cracked a two-run shot over center to cut the lead to one.

The Dash chased Roberts from the game in the sixth inning by scoring four. Mike Blanke singled home a run to tie the game 4-4. After loading the bases, Winston-Salem brought home all three on a single by Ciolli, a fielder’s choice and an error.

Trailing 7-4, the Mudcats got a run back in the seventh when Cannon scored following a double on a grounder by Wolters to first. Ronny Rodriguez tied the game on a two-run shot down the left field line in the eighth.

The decisive came from a two-out rally by the Dash in the eighth. After Armstong struck out a pair, three singles loaded the bases. With a 2-2 count, Brady Shoemaker was hit by a pitch to drive in the eventual winning run.

The Carolina Mudcats try to snap a five-game losing skid to the Winston-Salem Dash Saturday at 7 p.m.