SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

O'Neill homers twice in RiverDogs romp

Published on June 19, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Charleston's Michael O'Neill hit a pair of home runs, including the go-ahead shot in the eighth inning, as the RiverDogs defeated the Kannapolis Intimidators, 10-7, at Joseph P. Riley Park in front of a national TV audience on CBS Sports Network. Kannapolis (0-1, 29-39) opened the Second Half of the South Atlantic League season with the team's sixth straight loss.

O'Neill finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored to pace a RiverDogs offense that erupted for nine runs over its final four innings at the plate.

Charleston's Evan Rutckyj (1-0) tossed the final 3.0 innings to earn the win while Intimidators reliever Matt Abramson (0-4) suffered a second straight loss.

The RiverDogs tied the game, 7-7, with four runs in the seventh inning, starting with a Michael O'Neill home run to lead off the frame. Reliever Andrew Mitchell, who worked around bases loaded to strike out the side in the sixth, whiffed two more in the seventh, but both batters reached base - one on a strikeout-wild pitch and another on an errant throw from the catcher down to first. Both runners scored for Charleston, as did Raymond Nunez whose RBI-single pulled the 'Dogs within a run, 7-6, and chased Mitchell from the game with no outs in the seventh. Abramson came on in relief, an allowed the inherited runner Nunez to score on an error to even the score, 7-7.

Hunter Jones led off the game with a triple and scored on a Trey Michalczewski groundout for a 1-0 lead. Austin walked in the second inning and scored on a Christian Stringer base hit, and Jacob Morris added an RBI-single in the third inning for a 3-0 lead.

In his professional debut, Intimidators catcher Brett Austin mashed his first professional hit, a 2-run double in the fifth inning for a 5-1 lead. Austin, whom the White Sox selected out of NC State in the fourth round of this June's draft, finished the night 1-for-4 with with a walk and a run scored.

The Intimidators built a 7-3 lead after plating two runs in the top of the seventh. Morris chipped in his second RBI-single, finishing the game

Kannapolis starter Tyler Barnette worked 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out one in a no decision. Charleston starter Rookie Davis struck out six batters over 4.0 innings while giving up three runs on six hits with a walk.

The Intimidators continue this 4-game series and 8-game road trip to open the Second Half of the season on Friday as RHP James Dykstra (3-6, 3.27) takes the mound for Kannapolis against LH Chaz Hebert (0-0, 11.57) for Charleston. The Intimidators return to CMC-NorthEast Stadium on Friday, June 27, to open a 7-game home stand. For ticket and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 19, 2014


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