ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – Scoring eight combined runs in the second and third innings, the Elizabethton River Riders (6-2) took an early lead on the Greeneville Flyboys (3-5) and didn’t look back, pulling away late for an 11-4 victory.
Greeneville had a chance to take an early lead in the top of the first, but a great throw by Morgan Colopy (Indiana) gunned out Brock Daniels (Missouri) at home plate to end the inning.
After recording a leadoff double, Harrison Rodgers (Colorado Mesa) scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning for the Riders after a Cayden Phillips (Kansas State) triple. Isaac Williams (New Orleans) scored Phillips from third on an RBI single, while Peyton Basler (Charleston Southern) poked an RBI single to the outfield to score Williams, giving Elizabethton the early 3-0 advantage.
Rodgers hit the first home run of the season off a Flyboy pitcher, sending a two-run shot over the right-field fence at NECC Stadium in the bottom of the third inning, giving the Riders a 5-0 lead. Elizabethton's lead swelled later in the inning after a two-RBI double by Brendan Jones (Kansas State) moved the lead to 7-0. Basler recorded his second straight RBI single of the contest, scoring Jones and pushing the River Rider's lead to 8-0.
The Flyboys showed some life in the top of the fifth after loading the bases with nobody out. Canyon Brown (North Carolina A&T) and Saborn Campbell (Stanford) both brought in runs on back-to-back fielder’s choices, but Daniels was once again gunned out from the outfield, this time at second base, to end the inning with the lead cut to 8-2.
Greeneville saw their next chance at runs in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs before Gilbert Saunders (Minnesota) struck out Aidan Cannaday (Catawba Valley CC) to end the inning.
Elizabethton broke through for three more runs in the bottom of the seventh after a Marcus Sanders (Phoenix CC) triple scored Williams and Basler. Sanders ended the inning by coming home to score on a wild pitch, pushing the Elizabethton advantage to 11-2.
Campbell came through for the Flyboys again in the top of the eighth, bringing home Cian Sahler (Fordham) and Will Brown (Florida A&M), cutting the River Rider lead to 11-4.
The Flyboys would go down quietly in the ninth, as Elizabethon earned their sixth win of the season, splitting the series with Greeneville.
BJ Bailey (1-0) (Spartanburg Methodist) earns the win, going five innings, allowing two runs off three hits, walking a pair and striking out five. Saunders went two innings in relief, walking four batters and striking out one. Evan Loeser (Lake Sumter CC) closed out the game for Elizabethton, going two innings, allowing a pair of runs off two hits, walking one and striking out another.
Brian Yetter (0-2) (Marist) was handed his second loss of the season, going two innings, giving up six runs off seven hits, walking one and striking out three. Nic Chiodo (RCSJ-Cumberlands) gave up two runs off two hits and walked two batters in an inning of work. Cade Nelson (Gateway CC) recorded three straight scoreless innings out of the bullpen but gave up three runs in his fourth inning of action. He gave up three hits, walked one and recorded seven strikeouts. Tyler Blakenship (Yuba College) closed out the contest, striking out a pair of batters in an inning of work.
The Flyboys return to Pioneer Park tomorrow, June 10, to kick off a six-game homestand, taking on the Johnson City Doughboys at 7:00 PM. It’s Firework Friday, as fans in attendance will be treated to a fireworks show following the game. Tickets are still available for the game at flyboysbaseball.com.
