It has been an up-and-down first half of the season for the Hickory Crawdads, who started the season as hot as they ever have through three weeks, then hit a slump to stumble back to .500.
But Hickory (26-19) has since rebounded, winning 10 of its last 13 games, including winning five of their last six contests entering Thursday night’s third of six scheduled games last week against the host Salem (Va.) RidgeYaks.
The recent hot stretch pushed the Crawdads back into first place in the Single-A Carolina League’s South Division, leading Augusta (Ga.) by one game and Kannapolis by two games with 22 games left in the first half of the season.
Both the team that finishes atop the division standings in the first half and the team that finishes with the best second-half record will qualify for the playoffs.
The ’Dads remain in Virginia until Sunday, then return home to L.P. Frans Stadium starting June 2 to host a six-game series against Kannapolis. It will mark Hickory’s first true home game since an early May fire in the visiting clubhouse temporarily pushed ’Dads home games to Winston-Salem.
Here’s more information from games that the Crawdads played between May 22-27, including three games against the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs to end last week’s home set at Winston’s Truist Stadium …
FRIDAY, MAY 22
Hickory 5, Charleston 3
The Crawdads plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed, led at the plate by outfielder Hector Osorio, who singled, walked twice, scored two runs, drove in a run, and stole a base.
Marcos Torres produced one run and one RBI, while Paulino Santana (who hit his 10th double of the season) and Josh Springer added an RBI apiece.
Kamdyn Perry (4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 K) started on the mound for Hickory, with reliever Michael Trausch earning the win and Luimy Munoz collecting his first save of the season after the duo combined for 2 2/3 innings of scoreless work.
SUNDAY, MAY 24
Hickory 4, Charleston 0; Hickory 1, Charleston 0
Following a rainout last Saturday, the ’Dads and RiverDogs played a seven-inning doubleheader to start last week and cap their series, and Hickory’s pitching was the story of the day.
Evan Siary (6 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K) silenced Charleston in the opener to nail down his second win, then AJ Russell, Geury Rodriguez, and Owen Proksch combined for the shutout in game two.
Hickory played two runs apiece in the third and fourth innings of game one and scored its lone run in the fourth in the second game. Aneudis Mejia hit his third homer of the season and finished 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs in the first game before Santana doubled in Osorio for the lone run in the nightcap.
TUESDAY, MAY 26
Salem 3, Hickory 1
The Crawdads fell behind 1-0 after an inning, tied the game in the top of the second, but did not score again, with a pair of RidgeYaks’ runs in the fifth providing the difference as rain started shortly after and forced the game to be called after five innings.
Torres singled and scored Hickory’s only run via a Deward Tovar RBI single, with Osorio and Angel Arredondo (double) recording the guests’ only other base hits. Alejandro Chiquillo (4 IP, ER, 4 K) took the hard-luck loss.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27
Hickory 4, Salem 2
The Crawdads trailed early and remained tied late, pulling ahead for good thanks to a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Hickory outhit Salem, 7-3, and the hosts committed the game’s lone two errors.
Arredondo blasted his third homer of the season and walked twice, while Tovar (run) led Hickory with two hits, Osorio singled, scored a run, had one RBI, and walked twice, and Torres hit his 10th double of 2026.
Moises Morales (5 IP, ER, 2 K) gave Hickory a quality start, with Proksch (2 IP, H, ER, K) earning the win and Louis Marinaro (IP, K) ending the game with a perfect half-inning for his fifth save.
