KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers fended off a late rally in the ninth from the Hickory Crawdads to prevail, 5-4, at Atrium Health Ballpark Wednesday night.
RHP Truman Pauley (W, 2-10) turned in one of his best starts of the season with five innings of one-run baseball. Pauley allowed five hits, walked a pair and struck out seven batters. RHP Marco Barrios followed suit with two shutout frames, allowing no hits and striking out two. LHP Grant Cleavinger stonewalled the Crawdads, striking out the side in the eighth inning. Finally, RHP Carlton Perkins struggled in the ninth inning, allowing three hits and three runs but got the three outs required with help from his defense to secure the win.
The Ballers posted three runs in the opening frame, scoring first on back-to-back nights against Hickory. Alexander Albertus drove in the first run of the game with an RBI groundout before Grayson Fitzwater launched an opposite field two-run home run to put Kannapolis in front, 3-0.
Hickory scratched a run back with a Kaden Carpenter groundout in the top of the third inning before Kannapolis got it back in the bottom half of the third. Stiven Flores brought a runner across with a sacrifice fly before Fitzwater singled home another for his third run driven in of the game.
The top of the ninth got dicey for the Ballers, with the Crawdads scoring on a wild pitch and a two-run single from Deward Tovar to make it just a one-run game. With the tying run on-base, Alexander Albertus made a fantastic grab for the second out, then doubling off the runner from first on a hard throw across to seal a Kannapolis win. The Ballers have now evened up the series at 1-1.
RHP Gabe Tanner toes the rubber for Kannapolis Thursday in game three against the Hickory Crawdads at Atrium Health Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. in Battle of the Bell Night.
The 2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers season is underway at Atrium Health Ballpark! Single-game tickets, season ticket packages, group experiences and 10-game mini plans for the 2026 season are available for purchase now. Call the Cannon Ballers ticket office at (704) 932-3267 or visit kcballers.com for more information.