SALISBURY, Md. (WHKY) — The Hickory Crawdads opened Wednesday’s doubleheader with an offensive outburst before the Delmarva Shorebirds answered in the nightcap, leaving the clubs with a split at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Hickory rolled to a 10-1 victory in the opener, scoring six runs before recording an out, but was held to just one hit in a 4-1 loss in Game 2.

The split moved the Crawdads to 56-39 overall and 22-9 in the second half.

Crawdads erupt early in Game 1

The Crawdads wasted no time taking control of the opener.

Yolfran Castillo and Paulino Santana opened the game with consecutive singles before Marco Argudin was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Pablo Guerrero followed with a two-run single, Angel Arredondo lined a two-run double, and Luis Marquez added an RBI single as Hickory raced to a 5-0 lead.

After a pitching change, Sebastian Baquera lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0 before Delmarva could record its first out.

Santana continued his big afternoon by launching his 11th home run of the season in the fourth inning before the Crawdads added three more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh.

Although the Crawdads were largely held in check after the opening inning, Delmarva reliever Francisco Morao helped stabilize the game in his Shorebirds debut, allowing just one run over 4 2/3 innings. Hickory’s patient approach eventually broke through again in the sixth, however, as Arredondo delivered an RBI single and Marquez drew a bases-loaded walk before Marco Argudin capped the scoring with an RBI single in the seventh.

Santana finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a home run, a double and an RBI. Arredondo went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Guerrero drove in two runs. Marquez collected a hit and two RBIs, Castillo finished with two hits, and Argudin scored twice while adding an RBI.

Hickory totaled 11 hits, drew five walks and went 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

On the mound, Alejandro Chiquillo struck out six over three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.

Julius Sanchez (1-0) earned the victory with two perfect innings and three strikeouts in relief. Ben DeTaeye followed with a scoreless sixth before Frank Martinez allowed Delmarva’s lone run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

The Shorebirds managed just one hit while Hickory pitchers combined to strike out 12.

Shorebirds answer in Game 2

The nightcap started well for Hickory.

Castillo drew a leadoff walk and scored on Santana’s RBI double to right field, giving the Crawdads a 1-0 lead in the opening inning.

Delmarva answered immediately when DJ Layton blasted a 428-foot solo home run to center field, tying the game in the bottom of the first.

The Shorebirds took control in the third inning. Jemone Nuel and Braylon Whitaker reached with singles before Layton worked a walk to load the bases. Jaiden Lo Re followed with a two-run single to left, giving Delmarva a 3-1 advantage.

Stiven Martinez added insurance with a solo home run in the fourth.

That proved to be enough for Delmarva starter Andrew Herbert, who scattered one hit over five innings while inducing nine ground-ball outs and striking out four. Michael Caldon followed with two hitless innings and three strikeouts to earn the save.

Santana accounted for Hickory’s lone hit, finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI double. The Crawdads drew four walks but stranded four runners and went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Aidan Deakins (7-1) suffered his first loss since June 15, allowing four runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings while striking out six. Michael Trausch closed out the game with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Delmarva finished with five hits, with Lo Re driving in two runs while Layton and Martinez each homered.

The six-game series continues Thursday at 7:05 p.m., with Evan Siary scheduled to start for Hickory against KK Clark, who is expected to make his Single-A debut for Delmarva.