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SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Kannapolis Drops First Game to Hickory, 5-3

May 17, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, NC --- The Kannapolis Intimidators (25-14) dug themselves to an early 5-0 deficit in the second inning against the Hickory Crawdads (14-22) Thursday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health, ultimately falling 5-3 to the 'Dads in game one of the four-game series.

It did not take long for the 'Dads to jump on Kannapolis' John Parke (L, 4-4), as the southpaw issued a leadoff walk to Bubba Thompson, followed by a Franklin Rollin single into center field to put runners at first and second for Tyreque Reed. The Hickory first baseman cranked the fifth pitch of his at-bat off the wall in left-center field, scoring both Thompson and Rollin to give the Crawdads a 2-0 lead.

Not done yet in the inning, the 'Dads designated hitter, Tyler Ratliff, smacked a line drive to left field that scored Reed from second base, digging the I's into a three-run deficit.

In the top of the second, Cristian Inoa singled on a line drive to center, only to be followed up by a big-fly off the bat of Rollin for his second of three hits on the day, giving Hickory a 5-0 advantage.

The I's responded in the home-half of the second as Evan Skoug reached on a leadoff single up the middle, bringing up Michael Hickman. With no home runs on the season, the Kannapolis designated hitter launched the first pitch from Alex Eubanks (W, 3-3) to dead-center, traveling 440 feet.

Kannapolis had a couple more opportunities to score, with one of those coming in the fifth with Luis Gonzalez and Craig Dedelow on base after both reaching on singles. After a five-pitch walk to Skoug to lead the bases, Justin Yurchak smoked a ball over to first base, but Tyreque Reed smothered it at first and pitched it to Eubanks at first to end the threat.

After a Hickory pitching change that saw Alex Speas come out of the pen in the seventh, Laz Rivera reached on a leadoff walk, followed by back-to-back strikeouts. With two outs, Skoug hit a sharp ground ball to right field to bring up Yurchak with two on. On a 2-2 pitch, Yurchak singled on a line drive to center, scoring Rivera to cut the deficit to two, 5-3. Later in the inning, the Intimidators left three runners on base after Johan Cruz grounded into a force out at second.

Despite Jake Elliot holding off the Hickory attack with six strikeouts in three innings, followed by Cameron Seitzer's home debut with one strikeout in the ninth, the Intimidators were not able to push across any more runs.

Kannapolis will host the Crawdads for game two of the series Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 17, 2018


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