Ronnie Gideon carved up Lynchburg pitching with a trio of extra-base hits, Braden Webb threw six scoreless innings, and Carolina opened a three-game series with a 7-0 rout Tuesday over the Hillcats at Calvin Falwell Field.
Gideon went 3 for 4 with two doubles and a solo home run in the seventh inning.
The Mudcats designated hitter was one of three batters to record first-inning doubles against Hillcats starter Sam Hentges. The two-base onslaught put Carolina (26-25) ahead 2-0 and was more than enough run support for Webb (3-3).
The right-hander allowed two hits, walked one and struck out a career-high nine batters in his 90-pitch outing. The former South Carolina standout and 2016 third-round draft pick did not allow a run in an appearance for the first time since May 13, 2017, in a relief role with Class-A Wisconsin.
Ryan Aguilar scored on a double play in the second and Gideon doubled in Weston Wilson in the third to put the Mudcats ahead 4-0.
Carolina tacked on two more in the fifth on an infield single and another double play, and Gideon’s fifth homer of the season capped the scoring.
Hillcats third baseman Alexis Pantoja went 2 for 3 and his eighth-inning double advanced Jorma Rodriguez to third with one out.
Mitch Longo and Jodd Carter followed with groundouts to end the Hillcats’ best scoring threat.
Hentges (3-4) allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. The 2014 fourth-round draft pick lost his third straight decision.
Anderson Polanco struck out five and allowed a run on two hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief.