Crawdads take series win, split first two with Kannapolis

The Hickory Crawdads recently took the field for the first time in 2026, posting a 3-2 record over their first five games of the Single-A Carolina League season.

The Crawdads started the year by winning two of three home games against the Columbia (S.C.) Fireflies, and then they traveled to Kannapolis for six games against the Cannon Ballers, who they defeated on Tuesday before being held scoreless on Wednesday.

Here’s a look at how the Crawdads — who faced the Cannon Ballers again late Thursday and Friday before also battling them tonight (Saturday, April 11) at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. — have fared during the early part of the season …

THURSDAY, APRIL 2

Hickory 5, Columbia 4

The Crawdads erased a two-run deficit by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as they opened the season with a one-run victory over the Fireflies.

In addition to its late-game heroics, Hickory also outhit Columbia 10-5 behind two hits apiece from Yolfran Castillo (double, single, run) and Josh Springer (two singles) and one each from Angel Arredondo (single, two RBIs) — whose hit scored the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the seventh — Paulino Santana (double, RBI, run, SB), Deward Tovar (single, RBI, run), Jhocsuanth Vargas (double, RBI), Hector Osorio (single, run), and Marcos Torres (single, run).

Starter Evan Siary pitched four innings of one-run, two-hit ball with eight strikeouts and no walks, with four other pitchers also seeing time on the mound for Hickory. Geury Rodriguez was the winning pitcher thanks to two innings of scoreless, hitless relief during which he had four strikeouts and two walks, while JD McReynolds (IP, K) earned the save courtesy of a perfect ninth.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3

Columbia 5, Hickory 2

The Fireflies scored all of their runs in the fifth and limited the Crawdads to four hits, including RBI singles from Tovar and Luis Marquez.

Osorio and Arredondo also singled for Hickory, while Torres and Santana each scored a run. Furthermore, a solid start from Jesus Lafalaise (4 IP, 5 H, 2 K) was wasted as Hickory’s bullpen failed to hold an early 1-0 lead.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

Hickory 5, Columbia 2

Another late rally lifted the Crawdads to a series victory as they took two of three games from their South Division foes.

Trailing 2-1 entering the eighth, Hickory tied the contest on a passed ball that allowed Torres (triple, SB) to cross the plate for the second time on the night. Tovar (double) then scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout from Santana (three singles, SB) before a single from Marquez plated Santana and Arredondo (single) with a pair of key insurance runs.

Other hits for the Crawdads came via singles from Springer and Danyer Cueva, while reliever Moises Morales (4 IP, 2 R, 6 H, BB, 2 HBP, 5 K) picked up the win and Louis Marinaro (IP, 2K) nabbed the save after retiring all three batters he faced.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7

Hickory 4, Kannapolis 3

Another one-run game went the Crawdads’ way in the opener with the Cannon Ballers, who scored all of their runs in the bottom of the first before Hickory scored a single run in the top of the fifth, two runs in the eighth, and one run in the ninth.

Hickory’s 11-hit attack was led by two hits each from Santana (two singles, run), Osorio (double, single), and Springer (two singles, SB), while Torres (single, RBI, run, SB), Marquez (single, RBI, run), Castillo (single, RBI), Tovar (double, run), and Arredondo (single) added one hit apiece.

McReynolds was the fifth pitcher to be used by the Crawdads, and he earned the win following two innings of scoreless, one-hit relief during which he had five strikeouts and one walk.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8

Kannapolis 4, Hickory 0

The Crawdads were held scoreless for the first time this season as the Cannon Ballers evened their six-game series at a game apiece.

Santana registered a double for one of Hickory’s hits, while Marquez had a single. Additionally, starter Aidan Deakins received a no-decision despite holding Kannapolis to no runs and two hits with five strikeouts, one walk, and a hit batsman in four innings.

NOTE: Hickory’s next home contest will be on Tuesday, April 14, at 6 p.m. against the Salem (Va.) RidgeYaks, who are set to visit L.P. Frans Stadium for a six-game series.