HICKORY, N.C. (Interstat) — The Columbia Fireflies and Hickory Crawdads meet Friday at L.P. Frans Stadium in the second game of a six-game series, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. under cloudy skies and a temperature of 86 degrees.

Columbia (33-31) sends right-hander Aidan Deakins (5-0, 2.91 ERA) to the mound. Deakins has been the Fireflies’ most consistent starter, posting a win in each of his five outings this season. Hickory (33-29) counters with right-hander Alejandro Chiquillo (0-2, 4.15 ERA), who took the loss in Tuesday’s series opener against Columbia.

The Fireflies won that opener 7-3, powered by a strong start from Jose Gutierrez — the same pitcher listed as a player to watch Friday despite not being the probable starter. Gutierrez tossed seven innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out four. Right fielder Roni Cabrera added a two-run homer in the victory. Gutierrez has been dominant in June, posting a 1.17 ERA over three starts, all wins.

Chiquillo, meanwhile, went 5 2/3 innings in that Tuesday loss, giving up five hits and three earned runs with three strikeouts. He has been plagued by inconsistency this season, though he threw six scoreless innings at Charleston on June 9.

The series began Thursday with a scoreless game that was suspended — no outs or runs recorded — and will be resumed at a later date. Friday’s game marks the first meeting between Deakins and the Crawdads this season.

Columbia’s lineup has been productive over the past week, scoring at least seven runs in four of its last five games. The Fireflies took three of four from Delmarva last weekend and swept a three-game set at Fayetteville on June 5-7. Hickory, meanwhile, dropped three of four at Charleston before losing Tuesday’s series opener.

The Crawdads have struggled offensively, plating three runs or fewer in four of their last six contests. Left fielder Paulino Santana homered in Tuesday’s loss, and first baseman Marcos Torres also went deep, but the team managed only six hits as a whole.

An Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 Columbia victory, reflecting the Fireflies’ recent momentum and the Crawdads’ pitching struggles. The two teams will play again Saturday and Sunday to close out the series, then head in different directions for their next road trips — Columbia to Kannapolis and Hickory home against Hill City.

Players to watch: For Columbia, Jose Gutierrez has been nearly untouchable of late, allowing only four earned runs in his last 23 innings across four June starts. For Hickory, Alejandro Chiquillo will look to bounce back after a rough outing Tuesday; he struck out four and walked two in that start but gave up a key home run to Cabrera.