Intimidators Cap Off Historic Night with a Win in Front of a Sellout Crowd

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (INTIMIDATORS STADIUM) - On a night where the Intimidators celebrated their last ever game at Intimidators Stadium and their last ever game as the Intimidators, Kannapolis took the series finale in front of a sell-out crowd (5,025) Thursday night in a 5-4 victory against the Hagerstown Suns.
Kannapolis found the scoreboard in the bottom of the opening frame, when Hagerstown starter LHP Jackson Stoeckinger walked Corey Zangari with the bases loaded, allowing Lenyn Sosa to cross the plate, making it a 1-0 ballgame in favor of the Intimidators.
Stoeckinger (L, 2-3) threw 4.2 innings for Hagerstown, giving up six hits, five runs, walking three and striking out four Intimidators batters. RHP Pearson McMahan followed in relief, putting in 2.1 innings of work, striking out three batters.
The hot streak continued for Tyler Osik in the third, as the Kannapolis utility man launched a two-run home run to left, his fourth of the campaign. Osik drove in Alex Destino, who had reached on a single one batter earlier.
Devon Perez started for the Intimidators in front of over 5,000 fans, as the right-handed pitcher out of the University of Oklahoma retired the first nine Hagerstown batters. However, in the fourth, Perez allowed two singles and threw two wild pitches to let a run score. Perez earned a no-decision, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and striking out six.
Hansen Butler (W, 1-1), a former UNC Tar Heel, entered in for Perez, as the righty followed suit by throwing back-to-back wild pitches, allowing another Hagerstown run to score. After the wild pitches in the fifth, the Intimidators held on to a one-run lead.
One half inning later, Cam Simmons hit a line drive two-RBI double to left field, bringing home Sosa and Osik to give the Intimidators some insurance runs, giving Kannapolis a 5-2 lead.
The Suns rallied for two more in the top of the sixth, when a Cole Daily RBI single scored Jacob Rhinesmith. One batter later, Phil Caulfield drew a walk with the bases loaded off Butler. Israel Pineda touched the plate, cutting the Intimidators lead to 5-4.
RHP Justin O'Conner (S, 1) closed the night out for Kannapolis, throwing a shutout ninth inning, allowing one base hit, and striking out one Suns batter.
The Intimidators will head to Delmarva for four games in the last series of the 2019 season. Friday night's game will begin at 7:05 p.m., as LHP Ryan Wilson (6-4, 2.57 ERA) takes the ball for Delmarva against Kannapolis' RHP Davis Martin (8-9, 5.06 ERA).