Late-Inning Surge Lifts Hickory Crawdads Over Kannapolis Cannonballers, 7–4

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — April 4, 2025 — A back-and-forth battle at Atrium Health Ballpark ended in heartbreak for the Kannapolis Cannonballers, as the Hickory Crawdads rallied for three runs in the ninth to secure a 7–4 win on Thursday night.

Hickory opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when Ben Hartl drove a ground ball into right field, scoring Yeremy Cabrera. Hartl advanced to second on a throwing error by right fielder George Wolkow, giving the Crawdads a 1–0 lead.

Kannapolis answered back in the third. Braden Montgomery worked a bases-loaded walk, bringing home Jordan Sprinkle to tie the game. The Cannonballers grabbed the lead in the fourth when Nick McLain was hit by a pitch, allowing Lyle Miller-Green to score and making it 2–1.

Miller-Green continued his standout performance in the sixth inning with a towering 441-foot solo homer to left field — his first of the season — stretching the Kannapolis lead to 3–1.

But Hickory clawed back in the eighth. Maxton Martin doubled home a run and later scored on a throwing error by second baseman Javier Mogollon. Hartl also crossed the plate during the sequence, giving the Crawdads a brief 4–3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Kannapolis tied it up at 4–4 when McLain drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Miller-Green.

The Crawdads didn’t waste time regaining control in the ninth. Cabrera knocked in Marcos Torres with a deflected infield single, and Rafe Perich added a key double to left, scoring Hartl to extend Hickory’s lead to 7–4.

Kannapolis threatened in the bottom of the ninth, with Casey Saucke drawing a walk, but the rally fizzled after consecutive outs ended the game.

Despite a solid effort from the Cannonballers, defensive miscues and timely Crawdads hitting made the difference. Kannapolis looks to bounce back in the next game of the series.