FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2026
Contact: info@durhambulls.com
Durham, NC --- Rikuu Nishida had three hits and three RBI to lead the Charlotte Knights past the Durham Bulls 7-5 before 8,476 fans at the DBAP on Saturday night.
Nishida had a pair of infield RBI hits and a run-scoring triple as the Knights (8-12) leveled the series with the first place Bulls (14-4).
Durham took a 2-0 lead in the first against Charlotte starter Shane Smith. Oliver Dunn was hit to open the game, with Nick Madrigal walking behind him. After a wild pitch, a groundout by Jacob Melton scored Dunn. With two outs, Tatem Levins singled to left to score Madrigal for a 2-0 lead.
Jesse Scholtens (L, 1-1) allowed four runs in a 30-pitch second inning. Scholtens, on a major league rehab for Tampa Bay, allowed four hits and a walk in the frame as the Knights moved ahead for good 4-2.
Durham closed to within one run twice in the game, 5-4 in the fourth and 6-5 in the seventh, but could not get over the hump.
Trailing 6-4 in the seventh, Dunn and Madrigal walked ahead of Melton, who drilled a double off the top of the right field wall. Melton's double missed a home run by a mere three feet.
The Bulls were outhit by the Knights 15-5 in the defeat.
Blake Sabol delivered a two-run double in the fourth, with Melton responsible for two RBI in the loss.
The series' rubber game is slated for Sunday at 5:05 PM ET with Michael Forret (1-2, 5.84) scheduled to oppose Shane Murphy (4-3, 6.98).
Notes: Despite the loss, the Bulls remain holders of the best record in minor league baseball in the second half at 14-4... Charlotte leads the season-series with Durham 10-1... The game featured several players who at one time played for the other side. Scholtens pitched for Charlotte in 2023 and 2025, Dunn began this season with the Knights, while Alexander Alberto was a major league Rule V pick by the White Sox in December, but failed to make the major league bullpen. Everson Pereira played briefly for the Bulls last summer, and started in left field on a rehab assignment for the White Sox. Javy Guerra notched the save. Guerra pitched in parts of two seasons for the Bulls in 2022 and 2023.
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