Crawdads toss no-hitter but slip to 2nd in division

The Hickory Crawdads threw the seventh no-hitter in franchise history on June 6 but lost their subsequent three contests to fall two games behind the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs for first place in the Single-A Carolina League’s South Division entering Thursday’s late game between the divisional foes at Charleston’s Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.

The RiverDogs (34-25) — who boasted a 10-game winning streak through Wednesday — also hosted the Crawdads (31-26) on Friday before the teams battle again tonight (Saturday, June 13) at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

Hickory will then return home for 12 straight games at L.P. Frans Stadium, hosting the Columbia (S.C.) Fireflies June 16-21 and the Hill City (Va.) Howlers June 23-28.

Here’s more information from games that the Crawdads played between June 4-10, which began with a split of their June 4 and 5 contests …

THURSDAY, JUNE 4

Kannapolis 4, Hickory 3

The visiting Cannon Ballers scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning, but the Crawdads outhit them 9-6 as Deward Tovar (solo home run, single, two RBIs, run), Josh Springer (double, single, run), and Yolfran Castillo (two singles) all had two hits apiece.

Hickory also received a solo shot from Paulino Santana, a double from Cal Stark, and a single from Angel Arredondo.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

Hickory 5, Kannapolis 2

The Crawdads did all of their scoring in the middle three innings en route to a three-run victory, with Hector Osorio (two singles, three RBIs) and Arredondo (single) blasting solo homers as part of multi-hit performances to go with one hit each from Marcos Torres (double, run), Springer (single, run), Tovar (single, run), Castillo (single, two SB), and Braylin Morel (double).

Starter Aidan Deakins (5-0) earned the win thanks to five innings of one-run, three-hit ball with seven strikeouts and no walks, while Louis Marinaro (2 K) and Luimy Munoz (unearned run, 2 H, BB) both tossed two innings of relief.

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

Hickory 5, Kannapolis 0

Four Crawdads pitchers combined to hold the Cannon Ballers hitless, with Jormy Nivar (3-0) picking up the win after striking out two and issuing one walk over the final three innings.

Other hurlers used by Hickory included starter AJ Russell (3 1/3 IP, 5 K) and relievers Geury Rodriguez (1 1/3 IP, 4 BB, K) and JD McReynolds (1 1/3 IP, 3 K), while the Crawdads’ offensive attack was led by three-hit efforts from Daniel Flames (three singles, RBI, two runs, SB) and Torres (two doubles, single, two runs, SB).

Castillo (double, single) added two hits for Hickory, which also got a solo homer from Arredondo as well as a single, an RBI, and a stolen base from Osorio, a double from Santana, and a single from Springer.

The Crawdads previously recorded two no-hitters in April 2025, and they have thrown five no-hitters since 2022.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

Kannapolis 5, Hickory 3

Osorio had three hits (two-run homer, two singles, two RBIs, two runs) for the Crawdads and Santana registered a pair of doubles, but Hickory failed to hold a 3-2 lead as the Cannon Ballers scored twice in the eighth and once in the ninth.

Also recording hits for Hickory were Springer (single, RBI), Flames (double, run), and Morel (single).

TUESDAY, JUNE 9

Charleston 5, Hickory 4

The late innings again doomed the Crawdads as the RiverDogs scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth and two in the ninth to collect a walk-off win.

Castillo (triple, single, RBI, run, two SB), Tovar (double, single, RBI), and Flames (two singles, run) each recorded two hits, while Springer (single, RBI, run), Santana (triple, RBI), and Marco Argudin (single) had Hickory’s remaining hits.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10

Charleston 3, Hickory 2

Another one-run game went the RiverDogs’ way as they scored the game’s final two runs in the sixth.

Despite the loss, the Crawdads outhit Charleston 8-7 behind a double and two singles from Castillo (RBI), doubles from Argudin (run, SB), Torres (run), and Morel, and singles from Arredondo and Santana.