Bluefield defeated Kingsport by a final score of 6-3. On the bright side, Axmen left fielder Nate Anderson is now on a nine-game hit streak.
Axmen pitching struck out a single-game season-high 16 batters. Five Bluefield batters struck out multiple times, including Ridge Runners' first baseman David Meech, who went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts - a golden sombrero.
Kingsport starting pitcher Matt Cornelius had a brilliant outing.
Bluefield (2-8) had six runs on seven hits, while Kingsport had three runs on three hits. Two of the three Axmen hits were infield singles. The lone home run of the game was a solo shot hit by Kaelen Culpepper, who had three extra-base hits (two doubles, one home run) in the series sweep over Kingsport. He threw six innings, allowed two hits, two (earned) runs, two walks, and recorded 10 strikeouts on 90 pitches.
Through his first 10 2/3 innings pitched this season, which were all against Bluefield, Cornelius has thrown 19 strikeouts.
The top four batters in the Ridge Runners lineup went a combined 2-for-16 at the plate with nine strikeouts. The game-winning hit in the game came on a Tristan Shoemaker RBI single, with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, which gave Bluefield a 4-3 lead.
Axmen relief pitcher Liam O’Brien (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three hits, two (earned) runs, one walk and recorded four strikeouts. Bluefield reliever Peyton Brown (1-0) picked up his first win of the season and Ridge Runners closer Spencer Floyd registered his first save of the Appalachian League season.
The Axmen (8-2) have the day off on Sunday but will visit the Johnson City Doughboys for game one of a two-game series. The first game will be played at TVA Credit Union Ballpark in Johnson City and the second game will be played in Kingsport at Hunter Wright Stadium.
