NORFOLK, VA – The Charlotte Knights offense exploded for a 10-6 win over the Norfolk Tides on Friday night as the team eclipsed the 80-win mark for the first time since the 2012 season and only the second time in the last 20 years.
Charlotte wasted no time getting on the board as Jake Cave knocked in a run with an RBI single, and Mario Camilletti crushed a three-run homer to go up 4-0 in the top of the first.
Norfolk made the most of a leadoff error in the top of the first, scoring two unearned runs on a sac fly and a double to cut the lead to 4-2 after the opening inning.
Cave led off the third inning with a solo home run, but the scoring didn't stop there as Andy Weber hit an RBI double and Korey Lee added another run with an RBI single, expanding the Knights' lead to 7-2.
The Tides chipped away in the bottom of the third with a leadoff single and a pair of stolen bases that led to an RBI groundout to cut the lead to 7-3 through the third.
Charlotte capitalized on an error by Norfolk and scored two unearned runs on an RBI single by Camilletti and an RBI double by Junior Perez to extend the lead to 9-3 in the fourth inning.
Right-handed pitcher Pierce George made his Triple-A debut for the Knights, having played at all four minor levels of the White Sox organization this season. George earned the win after throwing two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and two walks while striking out three batters.
Former Charlotte player Bryan Ramos led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run, cutting the lead to 9-4, and in the eighth inning the Tides added two more runs on a home run by Sam Huff that trimmed the Knights' lead to 9-6.
Perez hit an RBI single in the ninth inning to give the Knights an insurance run before Shane Smith came in to pitch the bottom of the inning, striking out two batters and slamming the door on the Tides to secure Charlotte’s 10-6 victory.
Tomorrow, the Knights will wrap up the 2026 season with day baseball, playing Norfolk at 1:05 pm ET at Harbor Park.