JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The Johnson City Doughboys fell short of another comeback against the Bristol State Liners, as Bristol won in sudden death, 6-6, on Sunday.
Johnson City struck first in the bottom of the opening inning of play. Nate Conner roped a leadoff single and was brought home by Jose Fernandez on a line-drive single to left field. Jackson Jones piggybacked off that for an RBI single of his own, bringing home Trey Majette, who had walked earlier in the inning.
Bristol tied the game in the third after Cooper Flemming got his first Appy League hit in a major way, a solo home run over the right-field wall, giving the State Liners a run back. Olin Ward tied the game with an RBI single, scoring Hayden Blair, who had reached on a walk.
Bristol continued to score in the fourth after an error in the infield allowed Jean Carlos Garcia-Chicano to cross home. Fleming added to his debut with an RBI double to left field, scoring Joe DuSell and giving Bristol a 4-2 lead.
The Doughboys stormed back in the fifth after Conner and Majette both worked walks with the bases loaded, scoring Logan Dunn and Dane Morrow. Fernandez followed it up with his second RBI of the night, a groundout that scored Willie Hurt and gave the Doughboys a 5-4 advantage.
That lead wouldn’t last long, as Bristol scored two more runs in the sixth inning as Ward reached on an error and scored Prince DeBoskie and Flemmings in the chaos.
Down one, Johnson City had a window open to tie or win the game in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff walk from Morrow put the tying run on base. Majette made sure he scored as he lined a deep fly ball off the right-center-field wall for a triple, tying the game at six apiece.
Johnson City failed to bring Majette home as Camden Kaufman struck out swinging, sending the game to sudden death.
Johnson City elected to be on offense as the home team, with Kaufman as the winning run on first. Ryan Jones worked a walk to put two runners on before a double steal attempt ended in disaster as Kaufman was caught trying to steal third. Two more strikeouts from closer Max Owens were all Bristol needed to hold on and take the sudden-death victory, 6-6.
The Doughboys will have Monday off before hosting the Greenville Flyboys on Tuesday at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
