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LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia – The Gwinnett Stripers (27-22) got a great season debut from left-hander Connor Thomas and staged an eighth-inning rally but slipped in extras 4-3 to the Charlotte Knights (25-24) on Friday night at Gwinnett Field. Charlotte leads the series 3-1.
EXTRA INNINGS DUB!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/6duaBsU3k4
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) May 23, 2026
Decisive Plays: Both sides failed to score until a fifth-inning RBI single off the bat of Mario Camilletti put Charlotte up 1-0. The Knights lead grew in the sixth inning when Junior Perez drove in Rikuu Nishida with a double, making it 2-0. Gwinnett threatened in the bottom of the sixth and got a run on the board thanks to an RBI single by Brewer Hicklen. Charlotte tacked on an insurance run in the eighth off of a James Karinchak wild pitch. In the bottom of the eighth, Brett Wisely dropped a looping single into left to drive in a pair and tie the game at 3-3. After a scoreless ninth inning, Charlotte went ahead in extra-innings on a sacrifice fly by Perez to make it 4-3. The Stripers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th, but Hicklen rolled a tapper just past home plate resulting in a double play to end the game.
DID SOMEONE SAY TWO-OUT RALLY TIME?
WISELY KNOCKS IN TWO, AND THIS BALLGAME IS TIED. pic.twitter.com/3egGiNREKO
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) May 23, 2026
Key Contributors: Hicklen (2-for-4, RBI) and Wisely (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs) drove in all three Gwinnett runs as Thomas worked through 4.0 innings (1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO). For Charlotte, Perez (1-for-2, 2 RBIs) drove in the winning run.
Junior Perez is making a 💪 first impression! pic.twitter.com/6XCe6bL0aH
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) May 23, 2026
Noteworthy: The Stripers are now 8-12 in one-run games, with four consecutive losses. Gwinnett fell to 4-2 in extra-inning games. After retiring the side in the seventh, Hayden Harris has only allowed one of his 13 inherited runners to score.
Rest in peace to a legend and someone we were lucky to have spent time with. Kyle, you will be incredibly missed. pic.twitter.com/c9sMMYBlXM
— Charlotte Knights (@KnightsBaseball) May 22, 2026
Next Game (Saturday, May 23): Gwinnett Stripers vs. Charlotte Knights, 6:05 p.m. ET at Gwinnett Field. It’s Star Wars Night, transport yourself to a galaxy far, far away with characters and theming from the classic movie franchise, Star Wars. In addition, autographed, game-worn jerseys will be available at GoStripers.com during and after the game, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting a dedicated non-profit. TV Broadcast: 6:00 p.m. on Peachtree Sports Network and Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Radio Broadcast: 5:50 p.m. on MyCountry993.com. Live Video Stream: Bally Sports Live.
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