Crawdads go .500 for the week, now tied atop division

The Hickory Crawdads were as average as it gets over the past seven days, going 2-2 to end last week’s road series with the Salem (Va.) RidgeYaks and also splitting the first two games of this week’s home series against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.

The results left Hickory (29-22) in a virtual tie with Augusta (Ga.) (30-23) atop the Single-A Carolina League’s South Division with a little over two weeks remaining to decide the first-half champion.

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.

After concluding the six-game series versus Kannapolis with games today (June 6) at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium, the Crawdads next week travel to face the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs from June 9-14.

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 28 and June 3 …

THURSDAY, MAY 28

Hickory 7, Salem 3

The Crawdads trailed 1-0 early but erased the deficit for good thanks to a two-run home run from centerfielder Marcos Torres in the second inning followed by a solo shot from left fielder Paulino Santana as part of a two-run top of the third.

Hickory scratched out additional runs in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings, with the team’s other outfielder, Hector Osorio, joining the yard party as he maintained his team lead with a solo shot in the seventh.

Esteban Mejia (walk, two runs, RBI), Cal Stark (run), and Angel Arredondo (RBI) tallied two hits each for Hickory, while Jesus Lafalaise (6 IP, 2 ER, 2 K) got the win and Frank Martinez (3 IP, ER, 4 K) collected his second save.

FRIDAY, MAY 29

Hickory 9, Salem 3

The ’Dads were outhit, 7-6, and committed the game’s lone error but drew nine walks and used two big innings — scoring three runs in the fifth and five in the eighth — to stay hot.

Hickory shortstop Yolfran Castillo reached base with three singles and a walk, scoring twice, driving in a run, and stealing a base, while Santana walked twice, stole a base, and also scored two runs. Arredondo, Luis Marquez (walk, SB, RBI), and Josh Springer (RBI) each singled and scored a run.

Aidan Deakins (4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 4 K) started from the mound, and Michael Trausch (2 IP, H, BB, 0 ER, K) earned the win in relief.

SATURDAY, MAY 30

Salem 5, Hickory 1

Santana singled to lead off the game, stole second base, and gave Hickory a 1-0 lead on Springer’s two-out, RBI single, but the guests’ bats went silent the rest of the way.

Springer supplied a team-best three hits — half of the team’s total — with Arredondo and Castillo both adding a single.

Hickory starting pitcher AJ Russell lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, two walks, and two earned runs with five strikeouts before being pulled.

SUNDAY, MAY 31

Salem 1, Hickory 0

The Crawdads mustered just two hits and squandered a solid start from Evan Siary (5 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, ER, 7 K) in the series final, dropping a pitcher’s duel after the RidgeYaks scored the only run of the contest in the bottom of the first.

Osorio and Arredondo singled for Hickory, while Santana, Castillo, Torres, and Deward Tovar each drew a walk.

TUESDAY, JUNE 2

Hickory 6, Kannapolis 3

In Hickory’s first true home game in nearly a month after a fire in the visiting clubhouse, the Crawdads and Cannon Ballers traded two runs each in the first and a run each in the third before Hickory took control with a pair of runs in the fifth and added an insurance run an inning later.

Osorio smashed his team-leading 11th homer of 2026 in the opening inning, and Arredondo supplied two hits including a double with one run and one RBI. Tovar (run) and Springer (walk, RBI) also doubled in the victory.

Louis Marinaro (perfect 2 IP, 5 K) got the win in relief, with Geury Rodriguez (2 IP, H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 3 K) nailing down his first save.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

Kannapolis 8, Hickory 3

Hickory trailed 4-0 before crossing home plate and 8-1 before managing two runs in the bottom of the ninth, far from enough to prevent Kannapolis from evening the series.

Arredondo had two hits including a two-run homer, and Marquez added a solo shot, while Springer led Hickory with three hits and Castillo (SB) added two hits.

Moises Morales slipped to 5-2 for the season as he allowed four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work, yielding three hits and three walks with six strikeouts.