Catfish blown out by Hickory

Just when things look promising, reality rears its ugly head.

After 3 close games with the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) ... including a win on Wednesday ... the Columbus Catfish weren't even in the game Friday night, losing 12-2:

Columbus got the scoring going in the 1st when Reid Fronk's groundout scored Maiko Loyola, who had doubled to lead-off the game. This would be the only lead the Catfish would have as the Crawdads then piled up 12 straight runs highlighted by Miles Durham's 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in and Austin McClune's 3 runs batted in. Columbus would finish the scoring with a home run by Ian Paxton in the top of the 9th, his first of the season.

Columbus was led offensively by Maiko Loyola, who was 2-4 with 2 doubles, and Reid Fronk, who was 2-4 with a run batted in. Ian Paxton came in for Mike McCormick as a defensive substitution and took advantage of his only at-bat, hitting a solo home run in the top of the 9th. Glenn Gibson took his 7th loss of the season.

The Catfish don't play Hickory again until the 2nd half of the season. They went 2-6 against Hickory in the 1st half.

Saturday, the Catfish visit Asheville for 4 games before returning home Thursday.