ZEBULON – Braylon Payne hit his first professional home run, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the first inning to help lift the Carolina Mudcats past the Fredericksburg Nationals 5-2 on Opening Night Friday at Five County Stadium.
Trailing by a run in the last of the first inning, Carolina (1-0) turned the deficit into a lead they would not relinquish. Jesus Made began the frame by reaching on an error ahead Payne, who blasted a home run over the wall in right field to give the Mudcats a 2-1 lead.
The Mudcats would add to the lead in the third inning with a pair of runs highlighted by a throwing error and, later in the frame, an opposite field double from Marco Dinges for a 4-0 advantage.
That was more than enough run support for Mudcat starter Jack Hostetler (W, 1-0) who worked five innings, allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts to earn the victory in his professional debut.
Fredericksburg (0-1) plated their final run of the game in the top of the fourth inning on an infield single from Randal Diaz to make it a 4-2 game.
The final tally of the game came in the bottom of the seventh when Filippo Di Turi was issued a bases loaded walk that stretched the lead to 5-2.
Jack Seppings (S, 1) pitched a pair of scoreless innings with two strikeouts to earn the save as he nailed down the 5-2 victory.
The three-game series will continue Saturday night at Five County Stadium with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. Fredericksburg will send RHP Alexander Meckley (0-0, 0.00) to the mound while Carolina counters with RHP Bryce Meccage (0-0, 0.00)
Mudcats, please don’t leave Five County Stadioum.