SALEM, Va. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads will look to bounce back from a series-opening loss when they face the Salem RidgeYaks on Wednesday at Carilion Clinic Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. under the threat of rain, with temperatures forecast at 76 degrees.

Hickory (25-19) will send right-hander Moises Morales to the mound. Morales is 5-1 with a strong season. He will be opposed by Salem right-hander Christian Foutch, who is 0-3.

The RidgeYaks (21-25) took the series opener 3-1 on Tuesday, snapping a modest Hickory winning streak. The Crawdads had won five straight games before that defeat, including a four-game sweep of Charleston over the weekend.

Tuesday’s loss evened the season series slightly. Hickory still holds a commanding 5-2 edge over Salem in head-to-head play, having taken five of six games in a home series back in April. But the RidgeYaks have now won back-to-back meetings.

One player to watch for Hickory is pitcher Alejandro Chiquillo, who started Tuesday’s game and allowed just one earned run over four innings, striking out four. Chiquillo has been a reliable arm in the rotation and could factor into the series again as a reliever later in the week.

For Salem, the key performer is right-hander Barrett Morgan, who earned the win Tuesday. Morgan tossed five innings, scattering three hits while allowing one earned run and striking out four. He has been dominant of late, winning his past three decisions. Over his last four outings, Morgan has surrendered only two earned runs combined across 18 innings, striking out 15.

The Crawdads’ offense, which scored 11 runs in a game last week against Charleston, was held mostly quiet Tuesday. Angel Arredondo went 1-for-2 at third base, but Hickory managed just five hits overall.

Salem got a solo home run from second baseman Stanley Tucker in Tuesday’s win. Tucker finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

A simulation of Wednesday’s game projects an 8-4 victory for Hickory, though real-life results have been more tightly contested.

The two teams will play again Thursday, continuing their six-game series in Salem. Hickory then returns home for a 10-game homestand against Kannapolis beginning June 2. Salem will travel to Wilson for a six-game set following the series.

With Morales on the mound, the Crawdads will aim to even the series and reassert their dominance against a Salem team that has found some momentum. Foutch, still searching for his first win, will need support from his offense to keep the RidgeYaks rolling.