Dawkins Records 20th Multi-hit Game in Kannapolis' 10-5 Loss

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Kannapolis Intimidators (23-31), doubling as the Piedmont Boll Weevils for the game, fell to the Hickory Crawdads (35-19) 10-5 on a rain-delayed Friday Night.
Taylor Varnell (L, 3-3), the teams strikeout leader, got the start on the night.
After a scoreless first inning for both sides, Kannapolis got on the board in the bottom of the second. Ramon Beltre singled on a line drive to right field scoring Corey Zangari to get the first run on the board. Up next, Ian Dawkins hit his team leading 19^th double, also giving him his team leading 25^th multi-hit game, to score Travis Moniot to double the lead, 2-0.
The lead didn't last long as Hickory put up a six-spot in the next frame. Hickory used a Curtis Terry three-run home run (14), and a combination of more hits and walks to bring Varnell's day to an early end. His final line for the night reads as: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
Devon Perez came in to relieve Varnell, making his Kannapolis debut. In the top of the fifth, he struck out the side and ultimately left the game after 2.2 innings of work, giving up just two hits and one earned run to leave the game with Hickory up 7-2.
Tyler Watson also made his debut with Kannapolis Friday Night but struggled in his one inning of work. In the top of the sixth, Kole Enright doubled to score Jax Biggers, then a Miguel Aparicio force out scored Jonathan Ornelas, extending the Hickory lead to seven, up 9-2.
Still unable to get anything going offensively, Kannapolis headed into the top of the seventh with Wilber Perez coming onto the bump. After tallying his sixth walk in 1.2 IP, Lane Ramsey finished shutting things down in the top of the eighth.
Heading into the bottom of the eighth down 10-2, Beltre and Dawkins tallied back-to-back hits (Dawkins' seventh 3+ hit game of the season) to put runners on early. Lenyn Sosa drove them in to cut the deficit to 10-4, then a Gunnar Troutwine fielder's choice scored him to make things 10-5.
After not being able to get anything going in the bottom of the ninth, Kannapolis ultimately fell 10-5.
The Intimidators next game will be Saturday Night against Hickory at 7:00 p.m., with Davis Martin (3-4, 7.41 ERA) on the hill for Kannapolis.