Crawdads Force Game 3

Charleston, SC- The Crawdads got a clutch pitching performance from Evan Siary on Thursday night at Joseph P. Riley Ballpark, defeating the Charleston RiverDogs 4-3 in game two of the Carolina League's Southern Division Championship.

Siary took the ball for Hickory, as the Crawdads were seeking their first playoff win since the 2019 South Atlantic League Championship Series. Siary was also trying to equalize the series for the Crawdads who suffered a heartbreaking loss to Charleston at LP Frans Stadium on Tuesday night.

Siary has been good all season, but tonight, he was otherworldly.

Siary tossed six shutout innings, as a one-out single to JD Gonzalez in the sixth inning proved to be the only baserunner he would allow.

Offensively, the 'Dads needed an early shot in the arm and got it from Kaden Carpenter.

The Hickory first baseman mashed a two-run jack in the first inning off Aidan Cremarosa to give the Crawdads a 2-0 lead before the RiverDogs swung a bat.

Deward Tovar would aid the cause in the fourth inning, driving home Jay McQueen in the fourth with a double to right-center field, boosting the Crawdads lead to 3-0.

In the seventh, Charleston got on the board with an RBI double from Andreimi Antunez to trim the lead to 3-1.

In the eighth, Carpenter was at it again, doubling home Yolfran Castillo, to give the Crawdads the needed cushion for the game two win.

Carpenter finished the night with a trio of extra-base hits in the seven-hit attack.

Jesus Lafalaise earned the save for Siary, as Hickory will now play in a decisive game three for the first time as a member of the Carolina League.

Tomorrow's game three will determine the Southern Division Championship, where the winner will face the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Fayetteville swept away the Fredericksburg Nationals 8-1 on the road to take the Northern Division crown.

First pitch time at the Joe is slated for 7:05pm.