HICKORY, N.C. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads pounded the Hill City Howlers 13-1 on Thursday at L.P. Frans Stadium, using a nine-run eighth inning to break open a close game. Attendance was 1,528 in a game lasting 2 hours, 47 minutes.

Hickory starter Jesus Lafalaise allowed one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts over five innings. Curley Martha hit a grand slam in the eighth, finishing with four RBIs. Luimy Munoz earned the save with two scoreless innings, striking out two.

Hill City took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a run-scoring groundout by Yaikel Mijares. Hickory tied it in the third on Sebastian Baquera’s RBI double. The Crawdads added a run in the sixth and two in the seventh before erupting for nine in the eighth, highlighted by Martha’s slam, a two-run single from Jack Collins and a two-run double from Angel Arredondo.

Hill City managed just four hits. Javi Torres took the loss. The Howlers fell to 31-41, while Hickory improved to 40-30.

Key performers: Lafalaise (5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 K); Ryan Prager of Hill City (3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 7 K); Jake Jekielek (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K) got the win. Marcos Torres went 2-for-3 for Hickory.

The series continues Friday night.