SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads, owners of the league’s best record, will look to continue their early-season dominance when they host the Salem RidgeYaks in the third game of a four-game series Saturday at L.P. Frans Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. under partly cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 81 degrees.

The Crawdads (10-2) have won three of the first four meetings this week against the RidgeYaks (7-5), including a 14-5 rout on Thursday. Hickory’s offense has been potent, averaging over seven runs per game during its current homestand.

Salem will hand the ball to right-hander AJ Russell (0-0), who makes his first start of the 2026 campaign. He will face a Hickory lineup featuring hot-hitting outfielder Hector Osorio. Osorio drove in four runs in Thursday’s victory and has six RBIs in the series.

The RidgeYaks will counter with outfielder Andrews Opata, who homered and had three RBIs in Thursday’s loss. Opata is batting .375 (6-for-16) over his last five games.

Despite Salem’s winning record, the series has highlighted a stark contrast. Hickory’s 10-2 start is the best in the Carolina League, while the RidgeYaks have dropped four of their last six after a 5-1 start.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the Crawdads are projected to win 7-5.

Following Sunday’s series finale, Hickory embarks on a six-game road trip to face the Hill City Howlers. Salem returns home for a seven-game homestand against the Fredricksburg Nationals beginning Tuesday.