KINGSPORT, Tenn. – For the second straight night, the Greeneville Flyboys (0-2) allowed multiple runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, this time giving the Kingsport Axmen (2-0) the 3-1 victory.
Mayes White (Florida State) started the game off hot for the Axmen in the bottom of the first with a leadoff double but was picked off trying to steal second by Alex Diaz (Cloud County CC) to end the frame.
Diaz responded on offense with a single in the top of the third before stealing second but was stranded halfway to home following a diving snag by Ian Riley (Cloud County CC).
After drawing a two-out walk in the bottom of the third, Kevin Fernandez (Pigeon Forge HS) reached third base off White’s second single of the day. The Axmen would leave the duo stranded after Aaron Casillas (Cal State Bakersfield) flied out to centerfield.
The Flyboys saw their best chance to score in the top of the fifth inning, loading the bases after a Brock Daniels (Oklahoma) leadoff double, a walk by Josh Cuniff (St. Charles CC) and Shemar Dalton (North Carolina A&T) reaching on a hit-by-pitch. Kingsport would go to the arm of Croix Jenkins (NJIT) to get out of the jam, doing so by forcing a Will Taylor (Clemson) ground out.
Greeneville committed their first two errors of the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth, as a throwing error by Beau Ankeney (Grand Canyon) and a fielding error by Aidan Cannaday (Queens (NC)) gave the Axmen runners at first and second with one out. Jack Liberio Jr. (RCSJ-Cumberland) answered with a strikeout and then forced a Casillas ground out to end the inning and keep the game knotted at zero.
The Axmen broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to Henry Hunter (UAB) recording a two-out double and then coming around to score after stealing third and then touching home plate following a Cuniff throwing error.
Diaz drew a two-out walk in the top of the seventh and found himself in scoring position following a wild pitch by Jenkins. Dalton brought Diaz home to score with an RBI single, tying the game back up at one run apiece.
After a throwing error by Graham Breite (St. Charles CC) moved Houston Koon (Pitt CC) to third, a passed ball scored Koon to give the Axmen a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cole Hales (Caldwell Tech CC) added some insurance for the Axmen, scoring off a double steal of home with Riley stealing second.
The Flyboys went down in order in the top of the ninth, giving Kingsport their second straight win.
Jenkins (1-0) earns the win for the Axmen going 3.1 innings, one hit, one run while walking two and striking out two. Isaac Gonzales (UNC Asheville) earns his first save of the year, closing out the game for the Axmen. Tommy Meyer (NIU) started the contest for Kingsport, going 4.2 innings, allowing three hits, no runs, walking two batters and striking out five.
Breite (0-1) was handed the loss, going 2.2 innings giving up two hits, three runs and walking four batters while striking out three. Liberio Jr. started the game for Greeneville, going five innings, giving up three hits, no runs, walking a batter while striking out a pair. Sam Roberts (Chandler-Gilbert CC) made his first appearance for the Flyboys this season, going 0.1 innings, striking out the lone batter he faced.
The Flyboys stay on the road, heading north to Bristol to take on the Stateliners in a two-game series beginning on Saturday, June 4. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Fans can tune in to an audio broadcast on the Flyboys Broadcasting Network beginning with the pregame show at 5:45 p.m. at flyboysbaseball.com.
