Baserunners Scarce as Knights Fall 4-2

NORFOLK, VA – The Charlotte Knights fell in their final series opener, dropping their Tuesday night contest 4-2 to the Norfolk Tides. The offense could not produce enough base runners, managed only four hits and worked one walk while striking out 15 times.

Charlotte's defense worked through some challenging situations early, starting in the first inning when left fielder Jake Cave showed off his arm strength, robbing the Tides of a sac fly as he gunned out the third-base runner trying to score.

In the second inning, the Knights received their first base hit and only extra-base hit when Ryan Galanie lined a double down the left-field line with one out, but Charlotte could not bring him home.

Starting pitcher Drew Thorpe, on his rehab assignment with the Knights, worked through another challenging situation with one out and two runners on, when he forced Norfolk to ground into a double play to end the top of the third inning.

The fifth inning is where the scoring began, with the Tides recording a lead-off double followed by a walk to set the table for the top of the order. They brought home both runners, the first on an RBI groundout and then the second on an RBI single to go up 2-0.

Charlotte answered back with Andy Weber and Rikuu Nishida both reaching base on a walk and a single, respectively, to start the sixth inning, and a wild pitch followed by an RBI single from Riley Unroe tied it up 2-2 in the top of the frame.

Norfolk wasted no time retaking the lead with a leadoff double and an RBI single back-to-back to take a 3-2 lead in the sixth. In the eighth inning, they added an insurance run on an RBI single.

After the back-to-back hits in the sixth inning, Charlotte did not crack the hit column as they fell 4-2 in the opener.

The Knights have a chance to rebound tomorrow at Harbor Park as they will play game two of the regular season’s final series on Wednesday night at 6:35 pm ET.