Axmen bounce back in big way in home opener
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – After falling at the hands of the River Riders the day before by a score of 9-7, the Axmen needed a big turnaround, and that’s exactly what the defending champions did. The Axmen (1-1) got it done at Hunter Wright Stadium defeating the River Riders (1-1) by
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – After falling at the hands of the River Riders the day before by a score of 9-7, the Axmen needed a big turnaround, and that’s exactly what the defending champions did.
The Axmen (1-1) got it done at Hunter Wright Stadium defeating the River Riders (1-1) by a final of 11-7. The game was delayed thirty minutes after showers soaked the area earlier in the day.
Much as was last night, the bats were hot for both teams. After a scoreless top of the first inning, the Axmen struck for four runs off, get this, zero hits. The Axmen drew six walks in the opening frame and capitalized on a River Riders fielding error to plate the first four runs of the game.
The River Riders got on the board in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a pair of singles from Ryan Weingartner of Saint Joseph’s and Kerry Herndon-Brown of Memphis. Austin Peay’s Keaton Cottam scored Weingartner and a fielding error by Kingsport scored Herndon-Brown.
The Axmen struck for four runs in the fifth after Houston’s Payton Allen doubled in Cole Swift of Radford. Ole Miss’ Seth Farni plated Allen on an RBI sacrifice fly. After two out hits from Ortiz and Mancini, UAB’s Mayes White roped a double to the right field corner to bring home Ortiz and Mancini.
Elizabethton made things interesting in the top of the eighth inning as the River Riders plated three runs off Regis’ Dominik Ramil, bringing the game to an 11-7 tally.
Despite a tough season at Johnson University, it was an impressive outing for Kaleb Townsend, who came on in the ninth inning and, despite allowing two walks, struck out the side to close out the game.
Maddox Burkitt of Johnson County Community College got the nod for the Axmen, going three and two-thirds innings giving up one and striking out two. James Madison’s Tyler Muscar (1-0) got the win.
Baker Cox (0-1) of Spartanburg Methodist College started for the River Riders and was hit with the loss, getting through just one-third of an inning, walking six and giving up four runs (three earned).
Next up for the Axmen, they’ll head off to Bristol for a two-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.