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SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

I's Defeat 'Dads 8-4 in Game One

May 2, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


Kannapolis, NC - The Kannapolis Intimidators (15-10) jumped all over the Crawdads pitching staff in the first game of the three-game series Tuesday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health, defeating Hickory 8-4 behind a 13-hit performance.

Kannapolis starter Parker Rigler received help at the dish through the first two innings, as the Intimidators jumped on Hickory's starter, Tyler Phillips, in the opening frame after Luis Gonzalez led off the inning with a triple. Two batters later and with one out, Justin Yurchak used his first of two hits on the day to single in Gonzalez with a hard groundball up the middle, giving the I's a 1-0 lead.

The Intimidators did not hold back in the second, as Michael Hickman and Johan Cruz both reached on singles, bringing up Tyler Frost with one out. The Gonzaga alumnus smacked the second pitch of his at-bat 373 feet over the right field wall, giving the I's a 4-0 advantage, proving to be his team-high fifth homer of the season.

In the third, the Crawdads used three hits in the inning to score three runs, highlighted by a Yohel Pozo double to straight-away center, scoring Ryan Dorow and Miguel Aparicio for the Hickory runs. The 'Dads tacked on another run in the inning with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Pedro Gonzalez, scoring Melvin Novoa, who reached on a walk, to cut the Intimidators' lead to one.

Fast forward a couple innings to the fifth, Hickory (8-15) bounced Rigler out of the ball game using a few hits and an error to tie the game, 4-4.

It did not take long for Kannapolis to respond, as they doubled their way into the scoring column in the bottom of the fifth with three doubles. Following Craig Dedelow's double, Evan Skoug ripped a double of his own to left-center field, scoring Dedelow easily from second. One batter later, Hickman delivered a double with two outs, scoring Skoug and giving the I's a 6-4 lead after five complete.

In the sixth, Kannapolis used a Gonzalez single and a Hickory error to get into scoring position for Yurchak, as he poked a ball to right field, scoring Gonzalez for the seventh Kannapolis run.

After Yelmison Peralta (W, 1-0) struck out the side in the seventh, the Intimidators added on another run in the bottom half of the inning as Skoug scurried home on a wild pitch from Alex Speas to give the I's an 8-4 lead.

Kannapolis will look to continue their hot-streak at home (10-2) when they host the Crawdads for the second game of the three-game series at 6:35 p.m at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.

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