The Redlegs advanced to 3-1 with a tight 2-1 victory over the Dayton Cardinals last weekend.

Aaron Carmack made his second start of the season and, as has happened to him so many times before, pitched a beautiful game only to be saddled with a no decision. Carmack went 6 innings and scattered 5 hits, struck out 9 batters, and gave up only 1 earned run as his first 2018 win eluded him for the second time.

Cardinal’s starter Joshua Cvetkovich kept the Redlegs offense quiet for most of the game, but they did jump out quickly to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st. Matt Morrison started the game off with a walk and stole 2nd and 3rd before Kyle Arend singled him in.

Both pitchers then made quick work of their opponents line-ups while each team played very solid defensively, making the game a speedy affair.

The Cardinals finally got on the board in the top of the 6th when 2018 first overall draft pick Nick Mershon launched a pinch hit bomb to straight away center field in his first at bat of the game. Randy Davis came on to relieve Carmack in the top of the 7th and tossed a scoreless inning, notching two strikeouts in the process to earn his first career win.

Before Mershon blasted that game tying home run, he came on in relief for the Cardinals in the 5th and put up 1 2/3 scoreless innings until the Redlegs finally broke through with a walk off single in the bottom of the 7th. The same two Redlegs who combined to put the first run on the board would then seal the game, as Morrison once again reached with a walk and again swiped 2nd base before Arend drove him in with the walk off single.

One downside to the exciting finish was that Mike Hartman was left on deck at the end of the game, ending his Redleg record 26 game hitting streak.

Game 2 was postponed due to weather and will be made up as part of a double header in June.

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