HICKORY, NC - Ti'Quan Forbes broke a 3-3 tie with a sixth inning home run as Hickory topped the BlueClaws 4-3 on Thursday night at LP Frans Stadium.

Lakewood had a chance for a sweep, but took two of three in the series from the Crawdads, their lone visit to Hickory this year. The BlueClaws have still won seven of their last 10 games since a five-game losing streak was snapped on July 4th.

Forbes' home run came off Ismael Cabrera (0-1), who took the loss in his BlueClaws debut after allowing that one run in 2.1 innings of relief.

Joe Palumbo, who allowed just three hits over 3.1 scoreless innings, earned the win, improving to 6-3 on the season.

The BlueClaws scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings. They took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Deivi Grullon before Hickory tied the game. The BlueClaws took a 2-1 lead on a Damek Tomscha SAC fly before the Crawdads tied the game again. Then in the third, Deivi Grullon hit an opposite field home run, his third straight game with a home run and his sixth of the season to put the BlueClaws up 3-2.

Hickory, however, would tie the game in the fifth on a fielding error by first baseman Wilson Garcia and took the lead when Ti'Quan Forbes homered in the sixth off Cabrera.

Lakewood threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with one out, but both Josh Tobias and Damek Tomscha popped out on the infield to end the inning off Garrett Brummett, who earned his first save.

BlueClaws starter Jose Taveras allowed three runs, two earned, in 4.2 innings and wasn't involved in the decision. Crawdads starter Dillon Tate gave up three runs in four innings and also didn't factor in the decision.

Cornelius Randolph went 3-3 with two walks for the BlueClaws who also had multi-hit games from Zach Coppola, Wilson Garcia, and Deivi Grullon.

The BlueClaws head to Charleston and open a four-game series with the RiverDogs on Friday. RHP Edgar Garcia (3-0) starts the opener for the BlueClaws opposite RHP Daris Vargas (4-5).

- BlueClaws -