Cannon Ballers Snap Losing Skid with 7-4 Win over Delmarva 

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Three Cannon Ballers tallied two-RBI nights and the bullpen rallied for 3.2 shutout innings in a gutsy, 7-4, win over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Thursday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.

With the win, Kannapolis snaps a four-game losing streak, moving to 14-15 on the season. Delmarva falls to 8-21 with the loss, still stuck in last place in the Carolina League North division.

RHP Aldrin Batista (W, 3-0) looked sharp early, but struggled in the later portions of his outing, allowing four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out four.

Both RHP Nick Altermatt and RHP Bryce Collins came in clutch on the mound for Kannapolis, with each striking out three in their nights out of the bullpen. Altermatt and Collins both struck out a batter for the third out in the sixth and eighth with the bases loaded, stranding all six of Delmarva’s runners left on in the two punchouts.

Kannapolis scored first in the ballgame for the first time in the series, going ahead, 1-0, on a first inning Caden Connor sacrifice fly. Rikuu Nishida handed the Ballers another run in the bottom of the second, scoring Drake Logan on an RBI groundout.

Delmarva notched their first run in the top of the third inning on a Stiven Acevedo RBI groundout, scoring Noelberth Romero to cut Kannapolis’ lead to, 2-1.

Ryan Galanie and Eddie Park combined for RBI extra-base hits in the bottom of the fourth, notching an RBI double and an RBI triple, respectively, to push the Ballers ahead, 5-1, after four innings.

The Shorebirds broke through against Batista in the top of the fifth with a Romero solo home run and in the sixth with an Aneudis Mordan bases-loaded walk, make it a one-run game at, 5-4, advantage Kannapolis.

After Collins’ strikeout to leave the bases loaded in the top of the eighth for the visitors, Galanie and Connor doubled-up for RBI singles in the bottom of the eighth to hand Kannapolis a pair of insurance runs and a, 7-4, lead.

RHP Jesus Mendez (S, 4) entered in the ninth inning in a save situation, striking out a pair of Shorebirds in the ninth to seal the victory for the Cannon Ballers.

Kannapolis will look to pick up their second victory of the week in the fourth of six matchups with the Delmarva Shorebirds. First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m., with RHP Seth Keener scheduled to start on the mound for the Ballers. Friday’s contest features a Faith Night theme and post-game fireworks for all fans to enjoy.

Fans can purchase tickets for Friday’s game or any remaining home games at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.