Preview: Howlers at Crawdads

HICKORY, N.C. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads will aim to extend their series dominance over the Hill City Howlers on Sunday evening at L.P. Frans Stadium, where a forecast of 87-degree temperatures and rain could affect play.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Crawdads (41-30) enter the game having won four of the last five meetings against the Howlers (31-42), including a 7-1 victory Friday. Hickory has outscored Hill City 38-20 during the current four-game set.

Players to watch

Right-hander Luke Fernandez (2-5) is scheduled to start for Hill City. The 22-year-old has struggled recently, allowing four earned runs in 2⅓ innings in a loss to Augusta on June 21, but showed signs of promise with four strikeouts over 2⅔ scoreless innings against the same team on June 17. In his most recent outing Friday against Hickory, Fernandez yielded two earned runs on three hits in 3⅓ innings.

Hickory will counter with left-hander Daniel Keaney (4-1), who has been dominant in his past two starts. Keaney threw five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out six in a 10-0 win over Columbia on June 19. He followed that with 4⅓ scoreless innings, scattering six hits and fanning six in Friday’s 7-1 win over Hill City.

Recent results

Hill City is 1-9 in its last 10 games, including five consecutive losses. The Howlers have dropped four straight to Hickory after splitting a six-game home series in April.

Hickory has won eight of its last 10 games, including a three-game sweep of Columbia last week.

Projection

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

Following Sunday’s game, Hill City returns home for a six-game series against Fayetteville starting Tuesday. Hickory travels to Myrtle Beach for a six-game set beginning Tuesday.