HICKORY, N.C. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads look to extend their winning streak against the Hill City Howlers to four games Saturday when the teams meet at L.P. Frans Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 86 degrees.

Hickory (40-30) has taken the first three games of this six-game series by a combined score of 27-5, including a 7-0 shutout Friday and a 13-1 rout Thursday. The Crawdads have won six of the last eight meetings overall against the Howlers (31-41). Saturday’s game is the fourth of the series, which continues with a doubleheader Sunday.

Right-hander Ryan Prager is scheduled to start for Hill City. Prager is coming off a rough outing Thursday against the same Hickory lineup, taking the loss after allowing one earned run on three hits over 3 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts. Over his last six appearances — three of them starts — the Howlers are 2-4, and Prager has a 2.84 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 16 innings.

Hickory will counter with right-hander Jesus Lafalaise, who earned the win Thursday by holding Hill City to one earned run on four hits over five innings, striking out five. The outing continued a strong stretch for Lafalaise, who has allowed just two earned runs over his last 11 innings. He has nine strikeouts in that span.

Hill City enters the game having lost eight of its last nine. Hickory has won four of its last five. The Howlers are in last place in their division, while the Crawdads are contending near the top of theirs.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-1 Hickory victory.

After Saturday’s game, the teams play again Sunday before Hill City returns home for a six-game homestand against Fayetteville beginning Tuesday. Hickory heads to Myrtle Beach for six games starting Tuesday.