'Dads Secure Series With 7-2 Win

Hickory, NC- The Crawdads scored a trio of runs in two critical stanzas to defeat the Delmarva Shorebirds 7-2 on Saturday night at LP Frans Stadium.

The Crawdads, who came into Saturday's action with a 6.5 game lead on Kannapolis and Charleston in the race for the Carolina League South Division's second-half crown, were looking for their third straight win against Delmarva in as many nights.

Jacob Johnson went opposite Brayan Orrantia on Saturday, making his fourth start for the 'Dads.

Johnson pitched into the fourth inning, allowing an unearned run to the Shorebirds, as Delmarva took the 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Miguel Rodriguez.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Paulino Santana entered the plot for Hickory, as the outfielder put the Crawdads ahead with a two-run single that plated Pablo Guerrero and Jay McQueen, giving the 'Dads the 2-1 lead.

Later in the frame, Santana scored on a wild pitch from eventual losing pitcher Brayan Orrantia, upping the Hickory lead to 3-1.

Each club scored a single run in the sixth inning, giving Hickory (70-46, 36-16) the 4-2 lead going to the eighth inning.

In the eighth, Deward Tovar offered the 3,118 fans at the ballpark a prelude to the post-game fireworks show with a prodigious blast to right field, putting the Crawdads squarely in front at 7-2.

The three-run blast was Tovar's 16th homer and his 72nd RBI on the season, both club highs for 2026.

JD McReynolds would coax a fly ball off the bat of Jhomnardo Reyes to seal the win for Brandon Jaenke (1-0), who tossed two scoreless innings to claim his first win for the Crawdads.

The Crawdad's eight-hit attack was spearheaded by the middle of the order, as Santana and Tovar collected two hits each in the win, while Josh Springer connected for three safeties on the night.

Springer also helped to subdue the Shorebirds run game, nabbing two would-be base stealers in the contest.

Stiven Martinez paced Delmarva's offense, reaching three times on two singles and a walk.

Orrantia's loss for the Shorebirds (42-77, 19-34) dropped his record to 1-8 on the campaign.

The win for Hickory keeps them 6.5 games up on Kannapolis, who defeated Fredericksburg 1-0 tonight on the road.

The win also moves the Crawdad's magic number to eight games, as Hickory seeks their first postseason appearance as a member of the Carolina League.

The Crawdads wrap up the homestand against the Shorebirds on Sunday, before embarking on their final regular season road trip against the Wilson Warbirds. First pitch is set for 2pm.