PRINCETON, W.Va. – After a 10-0 loss at the hands of the Pulaski River Turtles the day before, Kingsport took out some frustration on the Princeton WhistlePigs, picking up eleven hits en route to a 7-5 victory in a back-and-forth affair Saturday.
Kingsport’s lone high school, Dobyns-Bennett High School, had two alumni make a significant difference in this game. Belmont right-hander Jake Timbes had eight strikeouts over five innings, his best outing of the season.
Timbes’ running mate behind the plate, Tanner Kilgore, however, stole the show in Saturday night’s contest. Beginning the year as the bullpen catcher, Kilgore was not expecting to see playing time, however, after some roster turnover, Kilgore got his opportunity and came up big for Kingsport.
He singled back up the middle in his first at-bat and then picked up his first big fly, hitting a ball off the top of the fence and over, collecting his first RBI. His second and third RBIs came in the sixth with another single back up the middle. He capped his night reaching for the fourth time with a walk in the eighth.
It was also a special night at the plate and in the field for one of Kingsport’s All-Star selections. Mike Mancini had a four-hit game with three singles and a double. He also scored three times and swiped four bags, not to mention an incredible running catch in foul ground in the eighth inning. His four stolen bases brought him into a tie with Burlington’s Kenny Mallory Jr. for the league lead.
Princeton got a two-hit day from outfielder Mike Koszewski, who homered off the foul pole in the third and singled in the seventh. First baseman Pierce Glading had a great debut as well, plating two runs in the game and picking up two hits.
For Princeton, reliever Nic Melton was hit with the loss, his third of the year. Owen Kovacs picked up the win out of the bullpen for Kingsport, while Tanner Franklin converted his second save of the year.
The two teams complete their season series tomorrow on seven-Inning Sunday, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
