Catfish blast Hickory, earn split

The Columbus Catfish ended their series with the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) on a positive note.

The Catfish erupted for 12 runs, as they took the final game of the series 12-0.

The win gives the Catfish a split of the 2-game series.

Hickory doubles up Catfish, 8-4

Despite taking an early lead, the Columbus Catfish allowed several runs in the middle innings, as the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) beat the Catfish 8-4 Friday night.

It was the 8th time in 11 meetings the Catfish were beaten by Hickory.

Catfish blast Hickory 10-4

The Columbus Catfish ended a three-game skid Thursday night, beating the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) for only the 3rd time in 10 games this season.

The Catfish had jumped out to an early lead, only to have Hickory tie the game, before breaking the game open in the 7th inning, en route to a 10-4 win.

Catfish lose third straight

After a blistering start, the Columbus Catfish have hit a cool spot.

They lost their third straight Wednesday night. The Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) beat the Catfish 3-2 Wednesday night.

The worst of it? The Catfish had the lead midway through the 8th inning, but lost it during what turned out to be Hickory's last at-bat.

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.

Catfish drop another to Hickory

After snapping the Hickory Crawdads' (Giants) 8-game winning streak the night before, the Columbus Catfish found themselves on the short end of a 2-1 decision to Hickory.

Hickory scored a pair of runs in the 3rd to take an early 2-0. The Catfish narrowed the score in the 7th...

Catfish snap Hickory streak with 2-1 win

The Hickory Crawdads' (Giants) 8-game winning streak began ... and ended ... with the Columbus Catfish.

Eight days ago, the Catfish dropped the first of three straight to Hickory, who then swept Rome in 4, then beat the Catfish last night.

Tonight, the Catfish edged Hickory 2-1 to snap the South Atlantic League's current longest winning streak.

Catfish drop series opener in Hickory

P Woods Fines, a member of the 2007 South Atlantic League champions Columbus Catfish made his 2008 debut tonight, but had a rough night of it as the Catfish fell, 7-5, to the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates).

Fines went 4 innings, allowing 7 runs on 10 hits, including a pair of 2-run homers, taking the loss. The bullpen, however, was outstanding. After Fines got the final 3 batters in the 4th inning out, reliever Kevin Boggan pitched 3 perfect innings of relief, and Travis Barnett pitched a perfect 9th.

Catfish drop 3rd straight to no-longer-slumping Hickory

Coming into this series, the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) had lost 9 of 11. And, after the opening game, 10 of 12.

That had to be frustrating for Hickory. And they took their frustrations out on the Columbus Catfish, winning the next 3, concluding with tonight's 10-2 win over my Catfish.

Catfish rally falls short

A father and daughter enjoying a Catfish game

The first inning took 28 minutes, the bullpen went 6 innings and allowed just 2 hits, and there was a 5-minute delay for an injured umpire. It all added up to an exciting game, but another Catfish loss.

The Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) won there 2nd game in a row after a 2-10 stretch, holding on to beat the Columbus Catfish 7-6 tonight.

Catfish drop 2nd game of series to Hickory

They didn't dig themselves a deep hole, just one deep enough to not be able to crawl out of. And every time they nearly got out, they dug a little deeper.

The Columbus Catfish fell behind early to the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) early, and couldn't catch up, losing 7-5 tonight.

Catfish open home stand with win

The best answer for a case of the Mondays is ending the Monday on a good note. And the Columbus Catfish did just that tonight, beating the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) 6-4.