The Delmarva Shorebirds fell 16-11 to the Hickory Crawdads after a nine-run ninth inning Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Salisbury, Md. Delmarva led 11-7 entering the ninth before Hickory rallied to take the lead and secure the victory.
The loss left the Delmarva Shorebirds with a 36-66 overall record and a 13-23 mark in the relevant split. The Hickory Crawdads were listed at 60-39 overall and 26-9 in the relevant split.
Delmarva Builds an Early Lead
Miguel Rodriguez and Luis Almeyda gave the Delmarva Shorebirds a 2-0 lead with back-to-back two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the first inning. Stiven Martinez doubled the advantage to 4-0 in the second with a two-run single that scored Hector Campusano and Junior Aybar.
The Hickory Crawdads answered with three runs in the third inning. Marco Argudin hit an RBI single, and Paulino Santana followed with a two-run single to cut Delmarva’s lead to 4-3.
Hickory tied the game at four in the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk with Sebastian Baquera at the plate. Delmarva regained the lead in the bottom half when Stiven Martinez hit an RBI groundout that scored Hector Campusano and made it 5-4.
Shorebirds Take Control Before Ninth-Inning Collapse
The Hickory Crawdads moved ahead in the fifth inning on Pablo Guerrero’s RBI double and a successful squeeze bunt by Luis Marquez. The Delmarva Shorebirds answered when Andrew Tess scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at six.
Hickory took a 7-6 lead on an unearned run in the sixth, but Junior Aybar tied the game with an RBI triple. Delmarva then moved in front in the seventh when Jemone Nuel hit an RBI single and Jaiden Lo Re followed with a two-run single, putting the Shorebirds ahead 10-7.
Miguel Rodriguez added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to extend Delmarva’s lead to 11-7. The Shorebirds carried that four-run advantage into the ninth inning.
Hickory Scores Nine Runs in the Ninth
The Hickory Crawdads opened the ninth inning with three consecutive walks. Deward Tovar followed with a two-run single, cutting Delmarva’s lead to 11-9.
With one out and the tying runs in scoring position, Sebastian Baquera grounded to third. A throwing error by Elvin Garcia allowed Hickory’s tying run to score, leveling the game at 11.
Marco Argudin then hit a two-run triple to put Hickory ahead. Pablo Guerrero followed with a three-run home run, completing the nine-run inning and giving the Crawdads a 16-11 lead.
The Delmarva Shorebirds did not score in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing the Hickory Crawdads to finish the 16-11 victory.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Delmarva built an 11-7 lead through eight innings but could not close out the game. Hickory’s three opening walks, the throwing error and the extra-base hits by Marco Argudin and Pablo Guerrero turned a four-run deficit into a five-run victory.
Source: Original report
