HICKORY, N.C. (Interstat) — The Hill City Howlers snapped a five-game losing streak against the Hickory Crawdads on Sunday afternoon, using a four-run third inning to overcome an early deficit and cruising to a 9-4 victory at L.P. Frans Stadium.

The Howlers, who had lost each of the previous five meetings by a combined 50-20 margin, finished with 13 hits and took control after falling behind 3-0 in the second inning. Hickory grabbed the lead on a triple by Luis Marquez and a two-run homer by Braylin Morel, who drove in three runs on the day. Morel went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Crawdads, but Hill City answered immediately.

In the top of the third, Yaikel Mijares singled, Dauri Fernandez tripled him home, and Gabriel Rodriguez followed with a two-run homer to tie the game. Juneiker Caceres then homered to give the Howlers a 4-3 lead. Hill City added three runs in the sixth on a two-run homer by Luis De La Cruz and a solo shot by Victor Izturis, extending the advantage to 7-3.

Hickory pulled within 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth when Morel singled home Curley Martha, who had walked. But the Crawdads could not get any closer. Hill City tacked on a run in the seventh on a single by Yeiferth Castillo that scored Juneiker Caceres, and Rodriguez homered again in the ninth for the final margin.

Rodriguez finished with two homers and three RBIs, and Caceres also homered and doubled, scoring three times. De La Cruz drove in two runs with his homer, and Izturis added a solo shot.

Miguel Flores earned the win, improving to 5-6 on the season. He allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking three. Zane Petty pitched two scoreless innings for his second save, allowing two hits and striking out two.

Frank Martinez took the loss, falling to 0-2. He gave up two runs on two hits in one inning of relief, striking out three.

The Crawdads’ Jormy Nivar threw three innings of relief, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out one.

Attendance was 863, and the game lasted 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Hill City improved to 32-43, while Hickory fell to 42-31.

The Crawdads had won the previous four contests between the teams by scores of 12-4, 7-1, 13-1 and 7-4 before Sunday’s result.

Morel collected three of Hickory’s eight hits. Jack Collins went 1 for 3 with a walk, and Martha went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a walk. Angel Arredondo, Daniel Flames and Marco Argudin each went 0 for 4.

For the Howlers, Mijares had two hits, and Castillo recorded two hits and two runs scored.

The turning point came in the third inning when Hill City erased a three-run deficit with four consecutive hits, including three that left the yard. The outburst flipped the momentum after Hickory had seized control with a three-run second.

Hill City will return home to face the Fayetteville Woodpeckers on Tuesday, while Hickory travels to Myrtle Beach for a six-game series starting Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Hickory 7, Hill City 1, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Hickory a 63.5 percent probability to win.