'Dads Drop Slugfest in Kannapolis 10-9

Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads nearly overcame a seven run deficit against the Kannapolis Intimidators Saturday night, but despite scoring the game's final six runs the 'Dads came up one tally short as they fell 10-9 at CMC-NorthEast Stadium.

The Hickory and Kannapolis offenses combined to score 19 runs on 30 hits, including 10 total extra base knocks. The Crawdads found themselves trailing 10-3 after the first five frames, but rallied for one run in the 6^th, and two tallies in both the 7^th & 8^th to cut the score to 10-8. The 'Dads would plate one more run in the 9^th, but ran out of outs in their 10-9 defeat.

Both teams had their bats working early, with Hickory scoring in the top of the 1^st with a double by Josh Morgan and an RBI single from Michael De Leon before Kannapolis countered with a 3-run bottom of the inning for a 3-1 score. The Crawdads came back with two more runs in the top of the 2^nd, as Jose Trevino singled and Eduard Pinto doubled to start the frame before scoring on consecutive RBI groundouts by Jose Cardona and Morgan to tie the game at 3-3.

The Intimidators responded by scoring the next seven runs in the contest, plating three against 'Dads starter Reed Garrett in the 2^nd before plating three more in the 4^th and another run in the 5^th against Hickory reliever Adam Parks to take a 10-3 advantage.

The game of streaks then swung back in the Crawdads favor, starting with a run in the 6^th thanks to a double by Luke Tendler and an error from Kannapolis second baseman Christian Stringer to cut the score to 10-4. The 'Dads picked up two runs in the next inning when Ronald Guzman plated Cardona and De Leon with a 2-RBI double to make the score 10-6. Hickory then scored two more tallies in the 8^th on back-to-back singles from Trevino and Pinto followed by an RBI fly out by Cardona and an RBI groundout by Morgan to bring the 'Dads within two with a 10-8 score.

The Crawdads looked to finish the comeback in the 9^th when Tendler led off the inning with a double to left field to bring the tying run to the plate. Tendler would score two batters later on an RBI groundout from Trevino, but the 'Dads rally would fizzle out there as Pinto ground out to second to end the game at 10-9.

Five Crawdads finished with multi-hit games, including three-hit nights from Guzman (3-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Tendler (3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, BB).

Kannapolis starting pitcher Thad Lowry (2-0) earned the win as he settled down from his early trouble to throw six innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits, no walks, and six strikeouts. Garrett (0-1) took the loss for the 'Dads after he gave up six runs on eight hits during his three frames on the mound. Intimidators reliever Devon Davis picked up his first save of the season after allowing a run but surviving the 9^th inning to close out the game.

The Crawdads (6-3) will go for the series win over the Intimidators (4-6) Sunday night, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 pm.

 

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