The Crawdads (16-11, 52-44) broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against RHP Colin Kleven (L, 4-7). With one out, Grayson walked and 1B Jorge Alfaro was hit by a pitch, putting two men on. After both runners advanced on a successful double steal, Grayson scored on an RBI ground out from 3B Drew Robinson. LF Alejandro Selen then drove in Alfaro with an RBI single chopped up the middle to put Hickory ahead, 2-0.

The BlueClaws (15-12, 41-55) responded with a run in the top of the fifth inning against LHP Kevin Matthews (W, 2-2). 1B Brock Stassi reached base on a bunt single and quickly stole second base. 2B Trey Ford worked a walk, and then the BlueClaws executed a double steal to put runners at second and third. After a strikeout and a walk loaded the bases with two down, Stassi came across to score on an RBI walk by RF Kelly Dugan, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Matthews surrendered just the one run in five innings, while scattering only three hits and striking out six.

The Crawdads opened the lead in emphatic fashion in the bottom of the fifth inning. After SS Luis Sardinas led off with an infield single, Adams blasted a two-run bomb over the left-field fence. After the 'Claws retired two outs, Grayson tallied one more run for Hickory with a solo homer launched over the right-field wall to put the 'Dads up, 5-1.

Hickory RHP Taylor Dennis and RHP Jose Monegro combined for four scoreless relief innings, closing the 5-1 win for the Crawdads.

Final

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Lakewood	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		1	4	0
Hickory	0	0	0	2	3	0	0	0	x		5	7	0

Recap | Box
W: Matthews (2-2, 5.06) L: Kleven (4-7, 4.75)

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