BURLINGTON, N.C. — The Bristol State Liners earned their first win of July on Thursday night, defeating the Burlington Sock Puppets, 11-6, at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
Bristol jumped ahead early on a two-run homer by Collin Dobson in the top of the first, but Burlington quickly responded. Caiden Combs cleared the bases with a three-run double in the bottom half of the inning and later scored on a Bristol throwing error, giving the Sock Puppets a 4-2 lead.
The State Liners erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning to take control of the game. Brady Gray singled to trim the deficit to one before Jaxon Walker followed with a two-run double to put Bristol ahead, 5-4. A Burlington error and a three-run homer by Hayden Blair—his second of the season—capped the outburst and extended the lead to 9-4.
Burlington answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a Preston Yaucher RBI single and a Bristol fielding error, but it wasn’t enough.
The State Liners added two insurance runs in the eighth inning, on a balk and a bases-loaded walk, to make the final score 11-6.
Bristol’s pitching staff held firm down the stretch. Adam Buczowski (2-0) earned the win in relief, while Charlie Atkinson also contributed out of the bullpen. Starter Miles Smith turned in a solid outing to set the tone.
Burlington starter Jack Hedrick was charged with the loss, as the Sock Puppets surrendered eight earned runs on the night.
The victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for Bristol and ended Burlington’s five-game winning streak.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
