Despite a five-run 9th inning, Kannapolis falls 8-7 in extras

SALISBURY, MD - The Intimidators pieced together another outlandish comeback in the ninth inning Monday night, scoring five runs while down 7-2, but taking advantage of the "runner-on-second" rule in extra innings, the Shorebirds edged the Intimidators 8-7 in 10.
After recording 10 strikeouts through 3.2 innings of work just a week ago against the Intimidators, RHP Ofelky Peralta of the Shorebirds picked up right where he left off, striking out Ian Dawkins, Steele Walker and Lenyn Sosa to begin the ball game.
In the bottom of the first, the Shorebirds used a double from Robert Neustrom and a single from Daniel Fajardo to put runners at second and third for Will Robertson. On an 0-1 pitch against RHP Kade McClure, Robertson singled on a soft line drive to right field, scoring Neustrom. One batter later, JC Encarnacion followed Robertson's single with one of his own, bringing in Fajardo for the game's second run.
After a groundout for the second out, Doran Turchin tripled for the second time this season, scoring two more for the Shorebirds, now up 4-0. Next up, Branden Becker put the cap on the five-run inning with a single through the left side, giving Delmarva a 5-0 advantage after one.
In the second, Peralta notched three more strikeouts after walking Evan Skoug on four-straight pitches, with the Shorebirds tacking on another run in the bottom-half thanks to an error, wild pitch, and single from Fajardo.
With a clean third inning for both pitchers, Delmarva used two fielding errors by the Intimidators and a single from Neustrom to score their seventh run of the ball game in the fourth, leading to McClure's exit.
In the fifth, Alex Destino smacked a single on a soft line drive to right field, scoring two batters later, thanks to a triple from Ramon Beltre. On the throw from center fielder Nick Horvath to the infield, Beltre scurried home thanks to the wild throw, making for a two-run little league home run.
With zeroes across the board for both teams in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, the Intimidators made their comeback push against RHP Jhon Peluffo, as Lenyn Sosa led off the ninth with a single. Followed by a double from Skoug to right field, Amado Nunez singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Sosa for the Intimidators' third run. Down by four runs, Bryce Bush grounded out to first base for the first out of the inning, but scored Skoug to get the Intimidators within three, 4-7.
Next up, Destino walked on four pitches, leading to a mound visit. After the visit, Fajardo allowed a passed, moving Nunuz and Destino up 90 feet. After a strikeout for the second out, Beltre singled on a soft fly ball to center field, scoring Nunez and Destino to cut the lead to one, 6-7. On the first pitch to Dawkins with two outs, Kannapolis' left fielder hit a pop up in the infield, as the wind blew the ball away from Brandon Becker at second base, allowing Beltre to score the tying run on the error.
Tied 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Perez (L, 0-1) surrendered a single into center field and then two-straight bunt-singles down the third base line, loading the bases for Becker. With no outs, Becker grounded into a force out, followed by a Seamus Curran pop out to short, bringing Adam Hall to the plate for the Shorebirds. On a 3-2 pitch with bases loaded, Perez struck out Hall swinging, sending the game into extra innings.
After two strikeouts and a pop out in the tenth inning for Kannapolis on offense, the Shorebirds used a single from Fajardo to center field to bring in the winning run in the tenth inning.
The Intimidators will send RHP Jonathan Stiever to the mound against Delmarva's RHP Hector Guance Tuesday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.