CLEARWATER, S.C. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads and Augusta Greenjackets will meet Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at SRP Park in the second game of a pivotal six-game series.

Hickory (46-33) holds a 1.5-game lead over Augusta (45-36) in the standings. The Greenjackets won Tuesday’s series opener 4-2. The forecast calls for 90-degree temperatures and cloudy skies.

Right-hander Evan Siary is scheduled to start for the Crawdads. Siary (4-2) is coming off a strong outing Sunday at Myrtle Beach, where he allowed two hits and no earned runs over 4.0 innings in a 3-2 victory. He struck out five. In his previous four starts, Siary has yielded 10 earned runs over 17.0 innings, though he has shown resilience. He gave up one earned run over 4.0 innings in a 4-3 win against Columbia on June 21 and five earned runs in a 10-6 win at Charleston on June 14.

Augusta counters with right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver. Smith-Shawver (4-3) has been sharp in his last two appearances. On Sunday against Salem RidgeYaks, he tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out five in a 4-1 win. On June 30, he worked 3.0 innings, giving up one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts in an 11-3 victory (Interstat) — also against Salem RidgeYaks.

Hickory enters the game having won two of its last three games, including a 3-2 victory at Myrtle Beach on Sunday. The Crawdads took three of five games in that road series. Augusta split its four-game home series against Salem RidgeYaks, winning Sunday’s finale 4-1 behind Smith-Shawver’s strong start and a two-run homer from left fielder Matt Scannell.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 Hickory victory.

The teams will continue the series Thursday through Sunday before the All-Star break. Hickory returns home July 17 to face Wilson. Augusta travels to Fayetteville on July 17.