Brad Corley and Alan Johnson, teammates at Mississippi State this time last year, will go head-to-head this weekend in Hickory, North Carolina. Corley is currently the Crawdads' starting right-fielder, while A.J. is a starting pitcher for Asheville and is expected to take the hill in game two of the series Saturday evening.

Johnson, who led MSU with 91 innings pitched and 70 strikeouts last spring, has had three consecutive solid outings for the Tourists, earning one win, one loss, and a no-decision. In those last three trips to the hill, the former Dawg has thrown 17 innings, allowing only 8 earned runs and 4 walks while striking out 14. His season stats now include a 4.91 ERA and 3-1 record in 8 starts. He has struck out 45 and walked just 10 in 44 innings of action this spring.

Corley, meanwhile, started off the season a bit slow after being taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round last summer but has gotten things going just recently. The Kentucky native, who hit .339 over his Bulldog career and earned first team all-SEC and all-America honors while in Starkville, is currently in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak and has improved his average from .228 to .253 during the recent hot spell. Corley has hit .344 with a homerun, a double, 7 RBI, and 5 runs scored during the streak.

The four-game series gets underway Friday night with first pitch set for 6:00 PM in Hickory. Weekend start times are 6:00 PM on Saturday and 1:00 PM on Sunday. The series finale on Monday night is set for a 5:30 PM first pitch. All times are central, and each game can be heard live over the internet for free via WMNC radio.

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