The Hickory Crawdads kicked off the 2011 campaign with a 4-2 win against the Asheville Tourists before 2,662 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Thursday night.  CF Jake Skole led the offense with three RBIs.

After a scoreless top of the first worked by Hickory starter RHP Roman Mendez, the 'Dads (1-0) bats came alive right away in the bottom of the first frame.  SS Jurickson Profar wasted no time, taking Asheville LHP Edwar Cabrera (0-1) yard with a one-out, solo home run to break the tie.  RF Josh Richmond followed by getting hit by a pitch, before 1B Andrew Clark added a single to put two on.  One out later, DH Tomas Telis drew a walk to load the bases and Skole belted a bases-clearing, three-run double to right center field, making it 4-0.

The Tourists (0-1) got on the board in the top of the second when C Bryce Massanari came in on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 4-1.  Asheville inched closer in the sixth with an RBI single from 1B Tyler Massey against RHP Carlos Melo (1-0), before RHP Nick Tepesch and RHP Ryan Rodebaugh (save, 1) combined to strike out seven through the final 3.1 innings, closing the 4-2 win for Hickory.