KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Interstat) — Grayson Fitzwater homered and drove in three runs as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers defeated the Hickory Crawdads 5-4 on Wednesday at Atrium Health Ballpark before an announced crowd of 2,057. The game lasted 2:26.

Kannapolis jumped ahead with three runs in the first inning. Alexander Albertus delivered a run-scoring groundout, and Fitzwater followed with a two-run home run. Hickory scored once in the third on Kaden Carpenter’s RBI groundout, but the Cannon Ballers answered with two runs in the bottom half on Stiven Flores’ sacrifice fly and Fitzwater’s run-scoring single.

Hickory trailed 5-1 before scoring three in the ninth. Deward Tovar’s pinch-hit single drove in two runs, but Grant Cleavinger struck out three in the ninth to preserve the win.

Truman Pauley (2-10) earned the victory, allowing one earned run and five hits over five innings while striking out seven. Alejandro Chiquillo (1-3) took the loss, giving up five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. Jormy Nivar threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings for Hickory. Hickory had eight hits; Kannapolis had nine. Kannapolis improved to 57-53 with the win, while Hickory fell to 67-43.