Carolina No-Hit by McCullough in Kannapolis

Kannapolis’ Connor McCullough no-hit the Mudcats in Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader

May 18, 2023

CAR: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
KAN: 0 1 6 0 0 0 x 7 11 0

WP: Connor McCullough (3 - 2) LP: Aidan Maldonado (0 - 3)

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Connor McCullough threw a seven-inning no-hitter and struck out eight while leading the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers to a 7-0 victory over the Carolina Mudcats in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Thursday night at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis.

McCullough (W, 3-2) faced just one over the minimum while falling a walk shy of a perfect game. His only blemish was a walk to Luis Lara in the fourth. In all, McCullough totaled eight strikeouts and one walk while pitching through the first no-hitter in Cannon Ballers history. The no-hitter was the fifth thrown against the Mudcats in franchise history. Before McCullough, the last pitcher to throw a no-hitter (nine-inning) versus the Mudcats was Jonathan Bowlan of the Wilmington Blue Rocks on July 15, 2019 at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, DE.

The Cannon Ballers (19-15) gave McCullough plenty of run support as they added to their 1-0 second inning lead with six runs in the third while going up 7-0 about halfway through the seven-inning game. Carolina (20-14) starter Aidan Maldonado allowed all seven runs (six earned) while pitching through two and 1/3 innings. Maldonado (L, 0-3) also allowed 11 hits, including six straight hits and seven overall in the six-run Kannapolis third.

Carolina reliever Miguel Guerrero eventually took over in the third where he went on to strike out two straight while leaving the bases loaded. Guerrero went on to total six strikeouts over two and 2/3 innings in relief. Jeferson Figueroa finished it with a scoreless eighth.

TOP PERFORMERS - BATTERS:
Willits, 3B (Kannapolis): 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Glass, LF (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Sprinkle, SS (Kannapolis): 2-for-3, 1 RBI
Logan, RF (Kannapolis): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS - PITCHERS:
Guerrero (Carolina): 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Figueroa (Carolina): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
McCullough (W, 3-2) (Kannapolis): 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO

SCORING:
Cannon Ballers 2nd (Cannon Ballers 1, Mudcats 0) -- Bryce Willits singles to right-center field. Luis Pineda singles to shallow left field, Bryce Willits to 2nd. Logan Glass singles to shallow left field, Bryce Willits to 3rd; Luis Pineda to 2nd. Drake Logan strikes out swinging. Mario Camilletti out on a sacrifice fly to Jace Avina, Bryce Willits scores. Jordan Sprinkle struck out looking.
(1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Cannon Ballers 3rd (Cannon Ballers 7, Mudcats 0) -- Brooks Baldwin strikes out swinging. Tim Elko singles to center field. Wild pitch by Aidan Maldonado, Tim Elko to 2nd. Jacob Burke singles up the middle, Tim Elko scores; Jacob Burke to 2nd. Bryce Willits singles through the hole at shortstop, Jacob Burke scores; Bryce Willits to 2nd. Luis Pineda singles to right field, Bryce Willits to 3rd. Logan Glass doubles to right-center field, Bryce Willits scores; Luis Pineda scores; Logan Glass to 3rd. Drake Logan singles up the middle, Logan Glass scores. Mario Camilletti reaches on catcher interference by Jose Sibrian, Drake Logan to 2nd; Mario Camilletti to 1st;. Jordan Sprinkle singles through the hole at second base, Drake Logan scores; Mario Camilletti to 3rd. Wild pitch by Aidan Maldonado, Jordan Sprinkle to 2nd. Brooks Baldwin walks. Pitcher Change: Miguel Guerrero replaces Aidan Maldonado. Tim Elko strikes out swinging. Jacob Burke strikes out swinging.
(6 Runs, 7 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB)