The Danville Otterbots defeated the Kingsport Axmen by a final score of 7-6 on Wednesday night.
The first runs of the game were scored in the top of the third on a two-run double hit by Danville’s Ryan Carr. Carr went 1-for-5 on the night but he made the most of his only hit.
The Otterbots (14-11) then put together another two-run inning in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead over Kingsport.
The Axmen (19-6) were held scoreless through the first six innings. In the top of the seventh, Danville scored three more runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead over Kingsport.
However, Kingsport answered in a big way, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Logan Poteet doubled home Henry Hunter, Ian Riley singled home Poteet, Jake Perry doubled home Riley and Nate Anderson and Perry scored on a fielding error on a ground ball hit by Casillas.
Then came a scoreless eighth inning and Danville went down in order in the top of the ninth. The Otterbots carried a 7-5 lead into the bottom half of the final inning.
The first two batters, Sam Petersen and Perry, both walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Corbin Shaw hit a fly ball into deep right field which was caught, but Petersen tagged up and scored to cut the Otterbots lead to one. Casillas followed up the sac fly with a four-pitch walk, and the Axmen had runners on first and third with one out. Mayes White came in to pinch hit and popped out in foul territory and then Henry Hunter grounded out to second base for the final out of the game.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Axmen, but they look to bounce back Thursday against the Doughboys in Johnson City.
