HICKORY, N.C. (Interstat) — The Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Hickory Crawdads conclude a three-game series Thursday evening at L.P. Frans Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled amid a forecast of rain and 65-degree temperatures.

Myrtle Beach (14-15) will send right-hander Kamdyn Perry (0-0) to the mound. Perry, making his season debut, has yet to log an inning this year. The Pelicans enter on a two-game losing streak after dropping Wednesday’s contest 4-2, following a 7-5 victory Tuesday to open the series. In Wednesday’s loss, Pierce Coppola threw four scoreless innings with five strikeouts, while catcher Logan Poteet homered.

Coppola, a left-hander listed as a player to watch, has been effective in relief. He also saw action in Tuesday’s game, allowing no earned runs across four innings. Myrtle Beach’s offense has been inconsistent, averaging 3.8 runs over its past five games.

Hickory (17-12) has won two of three overall and sits atop its division. The Crawdads have not announced a starter for Thursday. Right-hander Aidan Deakins, named a player to watch, has been stellar this season. Over his past four appearances covering 19.1 innings, Deakins has allowed only two earned runs (0.93 ERA) while striking out 17. In Wednesday’s win, he gave up one earned run over five innings with five strikeouts.

Center fielder Hector Osorio and second baseman Daniel Flames contributed key hits in that victory, each homering. Hickory’s lineup has been productive, averaging 5.1 runs across its last five outings, though the team lost five of six before this series.

The two clubs split the first two games of the set. Myrtle Beach seeks to even the series before the teams meet again Friday through Sunday at L.P. Frans. The Pelicans have struggled on the road, going 5-8 away from home.

In the latest head-to-head meeting Wednesday, Hickory’s pitching held Myrtle Beach to two runs on six hits. The Pelicans’ bullpen, which allowed three runs over the final two innings, remains a concern.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Myrtle Beach 4, Hickory 2.

Notes: Myrtle Beach’s next 10 games include a three-game set at Hickory, then six home games against Augusta, followed by a trip to Kannapolis. Hickory’s schedule mirrors the Pelicans’ through Sunday, then a six-game road swing to Columbia and a home series versus Charleston.

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