The Cedar Rapids Kernels mounted a late comeback to defeat the Quad Cities River Bandits 5-2 in a Midwest League game on Friday, April 18, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Kernels trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning before erupting for four runs to secure the victory.
Quad Cities took an early lead with a run in the first inning and added another in the fourth. Cedar Rapids got on the board in the sixth inning, setting the stage for the decisive eighth. The Kernels' rally was highlighted by key hits and capitalized on defensive miscues by the River Bandits.
Kernels reliever Jackson Hicks earned the win, while River Bandits pitcher Luis Cepeda was charged with the loss. The victory improved Cedar Rapids' record in the early season, while Quad Cities fell to a 1-2 start in the series.
The two teams are scheduled to continue their six-game series on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
