GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – A sac fly by Will Brown (Florida A&M) in the tenth inning scored Saborn Campbell (Stanford) to give the Greeneville Flyboys a tiebreaker victory over the Danville Otterbots in their home opener on Monday night.
Danville (3-2) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Cam Murphy (UNC Wilmington) scored on a throwing error by Canyon Brown (North Carolina A&T) following a leadoff triple. A Connor Dykstra (George Mason) RBI single scored Jevin Relaford (Santa Fe JC) to double the Otterbots’ lead.
After a leadoff double, Will Taylor (Clemson), scored the first Flyboy run of the game, coming in to score after an Aidan Cannaday (Catawba Valley CC) RBI single, cutting the Bots’ lead to 2-1.
Danville retook a two-run lead in the top of the fourth after an RJ Johnson (Appalachian State) double scored Grant Stephenson (Xavier) to push the advantage up to 3-1.
The Flyboys (2-3) answered in the bottom of the fourth frame, when Shemar Dalton (North Carolina A&T) scored on a wild pitch, cutting the lead back down to just one run.
Brock Daniels (Missouri) reached second on a throwing error and came around to score in the bottom of the fifth after another Cannaday RBI single, tying the game at three runs apiece.
Greeneville had their best chance to take the lead in regulation in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out. However, back-to-back strikeouts by Kenny Keller (College of the Desert) shut down the Boys and kept the contest tied.
Danville recorded a pair of two-out singles by Ty Acker (George Washington) and Murphy in the top of the ninth, with both batters moving up to second and third following a Caleb Jones (Winthrop) balk. Jones got out of the jam with a strikeout, moving the game to the bottom of the ninth, still tied at three.
After three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth, Greeneville chose to be on offense in the tenth inning, having Campbell run at first for Beau Ankeney (Grand Canyon). Another Cannaday single moved the pair to first and second, before a sac bunt by Tom Jurack (Illinois) moved the pair to second and third. Will Brown hit the ball out to centerfield, and despite a great throw by Connor Bradshaw (Pepperdine), Campbell was able to juke the tag by Dykstra, scoring the tiebreaking win.
Due to the new extra inning rules, Greeneville won the tiebreaker decision, 3-3. Individual stats do not count in extras, just the team win.
Cannaday went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk, while Will Taylor went 4-for-5 with a run scored. Murphy led the Otterbots offensively, going 3-for-5 with a run scored.
Neither pitcher is handed the win or the loss since the game ended in a tie in regulation.
Greeneville saw Tyler Blakenship (Yuba College) make his first start of the year, going six innings, giving up six hits, three runs, walking a batter and striking out five. Jones closed out the game for the Flyboys, going three innings, giving up four hits, walking a batter and striking out another.
Cody Tucker (Cal State Bakersfield) started the game for the Otterbots, going three innings, giving up a run and striking out six. Ryan Slaten (Central Alabama CC) went two innings in relief, giving up three hits, two runs, neither of which were earned, and walking two Greeneville batters. Kenny Keller went two innings, giving up three hits, walking one and striking out five. Tyler Monzon (Miami Dade CC) closed out the game for the Otterbots, going two innings and recording four strikeouts.
Up next, the Flyboys and Otterbots will close out their two-game series Tuesday at Pioneer Park at 7 p.m. It’s Two-for-One Tuesday, with select concessions items priced at two for one dollar. It is also Ace’s birthday, with the first 100 fans winning free cupcakes. Tickets can be purchased at flyboysbaseball.com.
