GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — The State Liners wasted no time getting on the scoreboard Friday night, erupting for four runs in the top of the first inning and never looking back as they topped the Flyboys, 6-2, at Pioneer Park.
Bristol jumped all over Greeneville’s starting pitcher from the first pitch. Singles from Prince DeBoskie and Elijah Alexander put pressure on early, followed by a wild pitch and a walk for Patrick Gillen to load the bases. RBI singles from Chris Patterson and Hayden Blair made it 2-0, and a double-play ball still managed to plate a third run. Drew Culbertson capped the inning with a line-drive RBI single, giving the State Liners a commanding 4-0 lead before the Flyboys even came to bat.
The Flyboys managed to get one back in the bottom of the first on an RBI single, but a slick double play ended the inning and stalled the momentum. A solo shot in the fourth was the only other run Greeneville scored against a sharp Bristol bullpen.
In the fourth inning, Jaxon Walker led off with a single, setting the stage for DeBoskie’s first home run of the season — a laser to left field that extended the Bristol lead to 6-1. DeBoskie reached base four times, going 2-for-4 with a walk, homer and two runs scored in a breakout performance.
Bristol’s pitching staff was steady throughout. Miles Smith started the game, with Alex Sotiropoulos earning the win in relief and Nick Romagno and Hunter Barber locking things down late. The State Liners didn’t allow a single run after the fourth inning and held Greeneville to just one hit over the final three frames.
Meanwhile, the defense shone, turning multiple double plays and making routine outs look easy in the late innings.
With the win, Bristol snapped its losing streak and will look to build on this momentum as it begins its series at Kingsport on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
