The Chillicothe Mudcats hopes of parlaying an offensive breakout the night before into a strong start to their three-game weekend home series with the MINK League’s top team thus far in 2008 died a quick death early Saturday evening.
     In the first game of a doubleheader of seven-inning games, the Mudcats trailed 4-0 before they got their first chance to swing the bat and wound up on the short end of an 8-2 score.
     Having thumped the Topeka (Kan.) Golden Giants 15-3 the night before, Chillicothe slipped back under .500 at 6-2 and fell to 3-5 in the league. Beatrice stayed perfect at 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the MINK League.
     The undefeated Bruins, the league’s defending champions and seemingly on their way to a repeat, jumped on game-rusty Chillicothe starting pitcher Justin McGarity for three hits and four runs in the top of the first inning and knocked him out with three-straight hits to begin the third.