The Crawdads came out on top 10-5 over the Winston-Salem Dash as they opened the 2023 season.

Rain threatened for most of the afternoon, but the skies stayed clear aside from a few drops early in the game as a crowd of 1,565 made their way to LP Frans Stadium.

Twenty-year-old Winston Santos got the start for the Crawdads, and spun six scoreless innings allowing, just one hit and walking none. He retired the first 14 batters before allowing a single.

The Crawdads took an early lead in the first and didn’t give it back. Alejandro Osuna singled and got himself in scoring position as he stole second. Josh Hatcher brought him in on a line drive to center.

The offense erupted for seven runs to take an 8-0 lead. The ‘Dads loaded the bases on the first three batters of the inning as Liam Hicks singled, Frainyer Chavez walked, and Keyber Rodriguez singled on a bunt towards third. Jayce Easley drew a five pitch walk to force in the first run of the inning. Maximo Acosta hit a soft line drive to center field, scoring Chavez and Rodriguez and leaving runners on the corners. Acosta stole second base to get himself in scoring position. Hatcher once again delivered, this time with a two-run double to left. Daniel Mateo followed up with a double of his own to give the Crawdads their seventh run of the inning.

Winston-Salem got on the board with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

The Crawdads pushed back with two more runs to extend the lead back to seven. Osuna walked and Cody Freeman was hit by a pitch to get on board for Mateo, who tripled to right.

The Dash scored twice in the ninth, but the ‘Dads were able to close out the game 10-5.

The ‘Dads strung together 13 hits and drew 6 walks in the victory.