Kannapolis 1, Savannah 0

Jacob May led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a home run, and Intimidator pitchers did the rest in a 1-0 victory Thursday night over the Savannah Sand Gnats.

May, batting leadoff and playing center field, went 3 for 4 with a single, double and a homer — his seventh of the season. Kannapolis (55-72) totaled eight hits, and Savannah (71-54) had just five.

Kannapolis starter Tony Bucciferro (3-4, 2.51 ERA) got the win after scattering five hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts over seven innings. Andre Wheeler and Stew Brase (eighth save) closed out.

Sand Gnats starter Julian Hilario (7-6, 3.67) took the tough loss, allowing six hits and the lone run over seven innings with no walks and five strikeouts.

Savannah nearly scored in the opening inning. Maikis De La Cruz singled with two outs and tried to score on Cole Frenzel’s double to right field. But Jason Coats threw to cutoff man Keon Barnum, and the first baseman threw home to catcher Mike Marjama for the tag on De La Cruz.

The Sand Gnats return home to Grayson Stadium today for a 7:05 game against the West Virginia Power. The teams have a doubleheader slated for 5:05 p.m. Saturday, and a single game at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 1-for-2, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 SB

Maikis De La Cruz: 2-for-4, 1 2B

Julian Hilario: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 5 K

Paul Sewald: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 2 K

(Team Report)