The Hickory Crawdads picked up their fourth straight win, defeating the Asheville Tourists 8-2 on Friday.

Hickory started the scoring with a pair of runs in top of the second inning. Abimelec Ortiz opened the inning with a solo home run to left field. Back to back singles from Tucker Mitchell and Cody Freeman followed. One out later, a fielding error allowed Daniel Mateo to safely reach base, and allowed Mitchell to score.

Asheville countered with a run in the home half of the second, but Hickory scored again in the fourth inning. After an inning opening walk to Freeman, Geisel Cepeda hit a home run, his third of the season, giving the Crawdads a 4-1 advantage.

The Crawdads exploded for four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Keyber Rodriguez singled to start the inning. Max Acosta singled and would make it to second while Rodriguez ended up on third. After a Tourists pitching change, Ortiz was walked. Mitchell then hit a sac fly, allowing the runners to move up a base, with Rodriguez scoring. Freeman then homered, clearing the bases giving Hickory an 8-1 lead.

Ortiz went three-for-four batting with two runs scored and an RBI. Rodriguez also had three hits with a run scored. Freeman had a pair of hits with two runs scored and two RBI. Larson Kindreich started and pitched four innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out six. Robby Ahlstrom pitched one inning and allowing only one hit and struck out two and got the win. Winston Santos pitched the final four innings in getting his first save, allowing only three hits, one run scored and striking out five.

The Crawdads are 28-34 on the first half of the season. They face Asheville through Sunday. Hickory is off on Monday and will return home Tuesday to take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers.