The Chillicothe Mudcats college-level, wood-bat baseball team had a 4-0 start to its 2010 season within reach time after time Sunday night, but couldn't pull it off.
After a 5-1 victory over visiting Omaha Diamond Spirit in the first game of an opening-weekend doubleheader at "June" Shaffer Memorial Park, the Mudcats' early-season struggles with cashing in on scoring chances finally bit them in the nightcap as Diamond Spirit rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to gain a split, 3-2.
Chillicothe pitcher Cory Trudell was a hard-luck loser after retiring the first 13 ODS batters of the game and allowing only three hits, five baserunners, and one earned run in a stellar route-going effort.
After the Fish failed to make more of several earlier opportunities, single Diamond Spirit runs in the sixth and seventh innings left Chillicothe trailing for the first time this season entering the bottom of the seventh.
A great catch in deep center field robbed Mudcat Brock LeBlanc of a leadoff double or triple in the final frame, but Chillicothe got hits from Will Maxwell, Darian Sandford, and Kyle Kinman to load the bases with one out. Former Mudcat Steve Jensen then entered to induce Mark Robinette to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end it.
In Sunday's opening game, Mudcats starting pitcher Sean Potter held Diamond Spirit to one unearned run on two hits over six innings to key Chillicothe's third-straight triumph.
LeBlanc had two hits, including a double, an RBI, and a run scored to pace the winners' attack.
Chillicothe has two days off before traveling to Sedalia Wednesday night for the first of two regular-season meetings between last year's MINK League division champs.
The Mudcats will be back at home Thursday against Clarinda (Iowa).
