KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers came up short in Thursday night’s contest, losing, 5-3, to the Hickory Crawdads despite bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning.
RHP Gabe Tanner (L, 3-5) tossed six solid innings while being tabbed the losing pitcher of record. Tanner surrendered nine hits, three runs, two earned, one walk and struck out five. RHP Andrew Berg worked the next 1.1 innings, giving up two hits, two runs, two walks and striking out one. RHP Ryan Schiefer finished the final 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, one walk and racking up one strikeout.
For the third time this week, Kannapolis notched the first run of the game. Jaden Fauske opened the scoring with an RBI single to right field in the bottom of the third to go in front, 1-0.
The Crawdads used an efficient top of the fourth to take the lead with RBI singles from Jay McQueen and Sebastian Baquera. Hickory jumped in front, 2-1, after their half of the fourth inning. Kannapolis immediately tied the game back at, 2-2, in the bottom of the fourth with a Steven Lancia sacrifice fly.
Kaden Carpenter gave Hickory a lead they never lost in the top of the sixth inning with a towering solo shot to deep right center field. His third home run of the season handed the Crawdads a, 3-2, lead. Marco Argudin later added insurance, launching a two-run blast to right field in the top of the seventh to make it, 5-2.
The Ballers tacked on one more run in the bottom of the eighth with a wild pitch from Julius Sanchez, allowing Clay Burdette to score and cut the Hickory lead to, 5-3. Kannapolis had the tying run at the plate multiple times late but could not find a way back into the game.
Kannapolis is back in business Friday night in the fourth game of their series with the Hickory Crawdads. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., with RHP Fabian Ysalla getting the start at for the Cannon Ballers.
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.