Mudcats shutout by Tennessee

Published in Sports on July 7, 2008 1:50 PM

• Print
• Email

Mitch Atkins pitched seven and a third scoreless innings to lead Tennessee past Carolina 8-0 Sunday afternoon in front of 2,881 fans at Five County Stadium.

Tennessee (12-7) was scoreless until the sixth inning when they were able to score four runs against Carolina starting pitcher Rick Vanden Hurk.

After a one-out double to left field by Tyler Colvin, Jake Fox smashed a ball over the left field wall to give the Smokies a 2-0 lead.

Later in the inning, Kyle Reynolds hit a ball that cleared the right field wall to score Welington Castillo to give Tennessee a four run lead.

With the loss, Carolina (10-9) is now two games back of first place Tennessee.

Colvin led Tennessee in hitting, going 4-5 and scoring two runs for the Smokies.

Atkins (W,9-6) allowed only five hits from Carolina, and no more than one in an inning.

Vanden Hurk (L,3-2) struck out six of the first seven hitters for Tennessee, but later allowed four runs on six hits in six innings of work.

John Raynor collected two of Carolina's five hits, extending his hitting streak to a season-long 10 games.

Carolina will face Tennessee in the last of a four game series Monday at 12:00 PM ET.