FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — In a brisk, pitching-dominated affair to open a doubleheader, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels capitalized on a first-inning rally and then rode a combined one-hitter to a 2-0 victory over the Clearwater Threshers on Friday evening at CenturyLink Sports Complex.

A crowd of 2,087 saw the game completed in one hour and 46 minutes, a stark contrast to the pregame projection from Interstat, which had favored Clearwater with a 50.10 percent probability to win and a projected final score of 1-0.

The decisive action came immediately. After Clearwater starter Cody Bowker struck out Bryan Acuña to open the bottom of the first, he walked Jayson Bass. Quentin Young then drove a sharp fly ball to center field that eluded Nathan Humphreys, resulting in a triple that scored Bass. Ryan Sprock followed with a sacrifice fly to center, plating Young to give Fort Myers a 2-0 lead with what proved to be its only hit of the contest.

That early offense was all the support required for the Mighty Mussels’ pitching staff. Starter Reed Moring, who earned the win to move to 1-0, was dominant over four innings of relief. He allowed just two hits and struck out seven, effectively silencing the Threshers’ lineup after taking over from opener James Ellwanger. Ellwanger started and worked three scoreless innings, yielding two hits and striking out four.

Clearwater’s best scoring chance was thwarted in the second inning. After an error and a walk loaded the bases with no outs against Ellwanger, Matthew Ferrara singled to keep the bases full. Ellwanger and the Mighty Mussels defense escaped unscathed, as Robert Phelps and Guillermo Rosario were called out on strikes before Tyler Pettorini struck out swinging to end the threat.

From there, the Threshers managed only two more baserunners. Manolfi Jimenez, who went 2-for-2 with a walk, singled in the fourth and again in the seventh, but was stranded both times. The Fort Myers bullpen, anchored by Moring, retired the final seven batters in order.

Bowker took the loss for Clearwater, falling to 0-1. He worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing the two first-inning runs on one hit while striking out five. Threshers relievers Keegan Batka and Zuher Yousuf were exceptional in keeping the game close, combining for 3 1/3 perfect innings with six strikeouts.

The victory evened both teams’ early-season records at 1-1. The two clubs were set to meet again immediately for the second game of the twin bill.

Clearwater is scheduled to continue its series at Fort Myers on Saturday before hosting the Tampa Tarpons for a six-game set starting Tuesday. Fort Myers will host Clearwater again Saturday before embarking on a six-game road trip to Jupiter beginning Tuesday.