GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Princeton Whistlepigs scored six runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead for good in the Greeneville Flyboys' 9-3 loss at Pioneer Park on Wednesday.
The Whistlepigs (5-8) took an early lead in the top of the first inning after a sac fly by Owen Blackledge (TCU) scored Irvin Weems III (San Diego State) to give Princeton the 1-0 advantage.
After a leadoff triple by Shemar Dalton (NC A&T), Greeneville (5-8) tied the game up in the third inning off a double-steal attempt, with Dub Gleed (UC Irvine) being gunned out at second, but Dalton stealing home. In his first at-bat of the season, Myles Smith (UC Irvine) blasted a ball to dead center, hitting it 405 feet and over the fence for a solo home run, giving Greeneville the 2-1 lead.
The wheels fell off for the Flyboys in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded following a pair of walks and a single by Landon Reeves (Davidson), a pair of walks by Tyler Blankenship (Yuba College) scored two Whistlepig runs, and Princeton retook a 3-2 lead. On a line drive to centerfield by Weems III, two runs scored for Princeton, and then the bases cleared after an error by Will Taylor (Clemson), pushing the Whistlepig advantage to 7-2.
Both teams would stay relatively quiet for the rest of the contest, with Princeton loading the bases in the fifth and the seventh innings but failing to score.
The Flyboys cut into the lead in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a Beau Ankeney (Grand Canyon) RBI single scoring Avery Collins (Cleveland State JC), lowering the deficit to 7-3.
The Whistlepigs responded in the top of the ninth with a pair of two-out RBI singles by Woody Hadeen (Ohio State) and Weems III, finishing the game and snapping Greeneville’s short two-game win streak.
Hayden Setzer (Caldwell Tech CC) earns his first win of the year, going three innings, allowing one hit, walking two and striking out four. Luke Delongchamp (Boston College) started the game for the Whistlepigs, going four innings, giving up two runs off four hits, walking one and striking out three. Cole McDaniel (Coastal Carolina) closed out the contest for Princeton, going two innings allowing one run off three hits and striking out one.
Brian Yetter (Marist) (0-3) was handed the loss, giving up four runs off three hits in three innings of work, walking two and striking out four. Blankenship went an inning in relief, allowing three runs, one of which was earned, off one hit, walking two and striking out a pair. Roan Tarbert (East Georgia State) walked three batters in an inning of work. Andrew Morones (San Joaquin Delta JC) walked two, struck out a pair and allowed one hit in two innings out of the pen. Graham Breite (St. Charles CC) closed out the game for Greeneville, going two innings, giving up two runs, one of those being earned, off three hits, walking two and striking two.
The Flyboys and Whistlepigs close out their series tomorrow, June 16 at Pioneer Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. It’s Thirsty Thursday, with three-dollar draft beers available all night long. Tickets can be found at flyboysbaseball.com.
