WELL-ROUNDED NIGHT FOR BALLERS NETS FIRST WIN AT ATRIUM HEALTH BALLPARK

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Three batters tallied a home run and three pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers got their first win at Atrium Health Ballpark in the 2021 campaign in a 6-2 victory over the Columbia Fireflies.

RHP Andrew Dalquist got the start for the Ballers on the mound, providing three sharp innings of work by striking out four and allowing four hits and two earned runs. Newly acquired RHP Angel Acevedo entered in relief in the fourth inning and looked sharp. The former Padres farmhand dealt in his 3.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit, and striking out six Fireflies.

Kannapolis opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on D.J. Gladney’s second home run of the season, a two-run shot to the left field berm that also brought in Bryan Ramos, making it a 2-0 Cannon Ballers lead.

Columbia got a run back in the top of the second when Kale Emshoff smacked a hard line drive to center field that allowed Brady McConnell to score all the way from first base, cutting the Ballers lead to 2-1.

Victor Torres kept the offense rolling for Kannapolis, launching his first home run of the season in the bottom of the second, expanding the score to 3-1, advantage Ballers.

The Fireflies got a run back in the top of the third on a McConnell double that brought home Jake Means, consolidating the lead to 3-2 for Kannapolis.

From the bottom of the third on, the Ballers took control offensively. Caberea Weaver tallied his first home run of the year in the bottom of the third on a lead-off solo shot to left field to make it 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Ramos reached on a fielding error that allowed James Beard to cross the plate, growing the lead to 5-2.

RHP Cruz Noriega (L, 0-1) got the nod for Brooks Conrad and the Fireflies on the bump. Noriega went four innings, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out three.

A 5-2 advantage became 6-2 in the bottom of the eighth on Torres’ second RBI of the game, this time on a single to left field that scored Gladney, good enough to validate Torres as the Five Star Transmission Star of the Game.

LHP Rigo Fernandez (S, 1) shut the door in the ninth, getting two quick outs before walking two. Pitching coach John Ely then made a mound visit, shifting the momentum back to Fernandez to help get the final out in the first Kannapolis Cannon Ballers win at Atrium Health Ballpark history.

The Ballers are back in action Saturday night as they will play their fifth of six with the Columbia Fireflies. Fireworks are in the plans both on and Off the field, with postgame fireworks planned for fans to enjoy. RHP Jared Kelley (0-2, 14.40 ERA) will get the nod for the Ballers, while Columbia will send out RHP Delvin Capellan (0-1, 4.00 ERA) to open the ballgame.

Fans can purchase tickets for tomorrow’s game or any of the remaining matchups with the Fireflies at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.