The Kingsport Axmen beat the Elizabethton River Riders by a final score of 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Elizabethton (19-20) scored first in the opening inning, but the Axmen (26-13) responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Jake Perry doubled home Sam Petersen and Shea McGahan scored Ian Riley on an RBI sacrifice fly. Perry hit his 11th double of the year and is now on an eight-game hitting streak.
Kingsport added two more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead. Nate Anderson singled home Henry Hunter and Riley walked home Mayes White with the bases loaded. Riley has now walked 26 times, leading the Axmen.
The River Riders stormed back to tie the game at 4-4 after scoring one run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
The Axmen fired back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Anderson stole second base and scored on a throwing error and Riley doubled home Petersen.
Axmen reliever Connor Maggi recorded his first win of the season out of the bullpen. Maggi threw three innings allowing three hits and one unearned run. Maggi has yet to allow an earned run through eight innings pitched.
Four of the seven Kingsport hits were doubles and the Axmen have hit the most doubles in the Appalachian League.
The Axmen look to complete the series sweep over Elizabethton on Wednesday night at Hunter Wright Stadium.
