Hays and Weber Go Yard in Series Opening Win
Published on July 21, 2026 under International League (IL)
Charlotte Knights News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Knights opened up their six-game homestand against the Norfolk Tides with a 7-6 victory on Tuesday night. The Knights overcame an early deficit and held on in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the win.
David Sandlin pitched four strong innings and limited the Tides to one run. The 1-0 lead lasted until Everson Pereira ripped an RBI double into the left field corner in the bottom of the fourth. The next batter, Austin Hays, hit a towering two-run home run and Charlotte took a 3-1 advantage.
Norfolk rallied back with a pair of runs in the fifth, but Andy Weber's leadoff blast in the bottom of the fifth ignited a four-run frame. Charlotte took a 7-3 lead and held on from there.
The Tides managed to plate one in the eighth and added two more in the ninth; however, Tyler Davis induced a groundout to end the game with the potential tying run at third base.
Nolan Jones and Rikuu Nishida joined Hays with a multi-hit game and Jaden Woods pitched 1.1 scoreless innings out of the Knights bullpen in his Truist Field debut. Tim Elko added a base hit in his first triple-A action since last season.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday evening with Game Two set for 7:04pm ET.
International League Stories from July 21, 2026
- Saints Five-Game Win Streak Halted in 13-2 Loss to Clippers - St. Paul Saints
- Tides Comeback Falls Short in Charlotte - Norfolk Tides
- Red Wings Storm Back in Ninth, Win Series Opener in Buffalo - Rochester Red Wings
- Bisons Surrender Ninth Inning Lead in Loss to Rochester - Buffalo Bisons
- Stripers Outlasted by Iowa in Back-And-Forth 7-4 Loss - Gwinnett Stripers
- RailRiders Top Error-Prone Mets - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Six Errors Cost Mets in 13-5 Loss to RailRiders - Syracuse Mets
- Hays and Weber Go Yard in Series Opening Win - Charlotte Knights
- Iowa Takes Game One in Gwinnett - Iowa Cubs
- Dazzling Defense Gives Indians Series-Opening Win over IronPigs - Indianapolis Indians
- Andrew Painter Punches out Eight But 'Pigs Edged out by Indianapolis - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Toledo Opens Series with 5-1 Victory - Toledo Mud Hens
- Bats Woes Continue with 5-1 Loss - Louisville Bats
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - July 21 at Buffalo - Rochester Red Wings
- July 21 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs at Gwinnett Stripers - Iowa Cubs
- Storm Chasers Players and Front Office Staff to Participate in 6th Annual "Chasers Community Week" in Partnership with Chick-Fil-A Bellevue - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Tuesday's Series Opener Postponed Between Jumbo Shrimp and Red Sox - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- WooSox Postponed Tonight at Polar Park - Worcester Red Sox
- SWB Game Notes - July 21, 2026 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
