Camilletti Drives in Three with Walk-off Double in Ninth for Instant Classic Victory over Mudcats

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – After being down, 10-4, at one point, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (57-53) swiped a, 11-10, victory on Thursday night. Mario Camilletti crushed a bases-clearing RBI double, providing the home team with the win over the Carolina Mudcats (61-47) at Atrium Health Ballpark.

LHP Shane Murphy struggled with allowing home runs on Thursday, with Carolina hitting two off the lefty in his 3.1 innings of work. Murphy allowed five runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out four. RHP Zach Franklin allowed five runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one.

Jace Avina notched the first runs of the ballgame in the top of the second inning with a two-run homer to left field, putting Carolina in the lead, 2-0.

The Ballers answered in the bottom of the second inning with a Juan Gonzalez RBI groundout, slicing the Mudcats lead to 2-1, after two innings.

Carolina soared ahead in the third, fourth and fifth innings with a total of eight runs over nine outs of offense. Luke Adams and Jesus Chirinos added a double and a home run, respectively in the fourth, with Kay-Lan Nicasia scoring on a wild pitch and Jadher Areinamo adding an RBI double.

After Kannapolis earned two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, a Dylan O’Rae RBI single, a balk that scored Gregory Barrios, and a wild pitch that scored Nicasia put the Mudcats in a commanding, 10-4, lead.

Kannapolis’ comeback started in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by Jacob Gonzalez and an RBI groundout by Jordan Sprinkle, inching the Ballers closer to a, 10-6, deficit.

Drake Logan, who reached base in every plate appearance in Thursday’s game, doubled in the bottom of the seventh to score Gonzalez, followed quickly by a Camilletti RBI on a double play ground ball, cutting Carolina’s lead to 10-8.

After RHP Billy Seidl (W, 5-3) tossed a shutout ninth inning, the Cannon Ballers had their opportunity to win arrive in the bottom of the ninth. After a Ryan Galanie base hit, a Juan Gonzalez hit-by-pitch, and a Logan walk, Camilletti stepped to the plate and smacked a line drive on the 1-2 pitch from RHP Chase Costello (L, 7-2) into left field, scoring all three runners and walking off the game with the Ballers as victors over the Mudcats.

Kannapolis and Carolina battle for the fourth time this week on Friday night at Atrium Health Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., with RHP Tanner McDougal getting the start for the Ballers.

Fans can purchase tickets for any remaining home games at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.