NEWS

Team photo after the game. [screenshot on DavidsonWildcats.com]

KANNAPOLIS — Davidson built a five-run lead and held off a late Western Carolina charge Tuesday to win 6-5 at Atrium Health Ballpark, home of the Single-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.

With the win, the Wildcats improved to 7-9.

Davidson scored four runs in the third inning, including two on bases-loaded walks before Jake Wilhoit followed with a two-RBI single to center field. In the fourth, Jack Cotrone’s triple to right scored Michael O’Shaughnessy from first base to make it 5-0.

After Western got on the board in the fifth, Nick Calero’s sacrifice fly to right made it 6-1 in the bottom half.

Western, though, got within a run by scoring four on three hits and an error in the seventh.  

Starting for the second time, right-hander Bennett Flynn threw three innings, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five.

Nick Shedleski got the final five outs and recorded his first save of the year. He came on in a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth and forced a popout and a groundout. The Catamounts got a pair of two-out singles against him in the ninth, but Shedleski forced a groundout to Cotrone at second to end it.

AJ Pabst also pitched out of a jam in the seventh, when Western had two runners on and two outs.

Up Next
Davidson will host Marist in a three-game series at Wilson Field this weekend.

Editor’s Note: Fun fact – for those who tuned into the Cannon Ballers’ YouTube coverage of the game, you probably heard a familiar voice. Former Davidson Head Coach Dick Cooke was on hand to call the game. It was great to hear his insights and color commentary.