Elizabethton wins slugfest against Pulaski, 22-16

The Pulaski River Turtles fall to the Elizabethton River Riders 22-16 on Friday night. The teams combined for 38 hits and 38 runs in an offensive shootout.

Elizabethton got on the board quickly, scoring three runs in the top of the first. A wild pitch that brought in right fielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu put Elizabethton on the board, then a two-run homer from first baseman Alex McCoy extended their lead to 3-0.

Pulaski answered back in the bottom of the frame, scoring two. The first came off a ground-out by third baseman Ryland Zaborowski that brought in center fielder Rodney Green Jr. An RBI single from designated hitter Ryan Johnson that brought in shortstop Gage Goddard then made it 3-2.

In the top of the second, a four-run inning put Elizabethton up 7-2. The first run came when Pulaski walked with bases loaded, to bring in second baseman Peyton Basler and make it 4-2. A 2 RBI single from third baseman Brody Green then made it 6-2. A sac-fly by shortstop Ty Peters that brought in McCoy then made it 7-2.

In the bottom of the second, an RBI double from Green Jr. brought in catcher Konner Kinkade that made it 7-3.

Offense continued in the third, with a combined six runs. In the top of the inning, a 2 RBI triple from designated hitter Harrison Rodgers made it 9-3. A wild pitch, a two-run homer from right fielder Christian Smith, and an RBI triple from first baseman Owen DeShazo made it 9-7.

Like the third, the fourth contained six combined runs. RBI doubles from Peters and Phillips, and an RBI single from Jones put Elizabethton up 12-7. In the bottom of the frame, a HBP, a runner interference, and a sac-fly from Kinkade made the game 12-10.

The fifth was where Elizabethton took control of the game, scoring nine runs in the inning making it 21-10.

Despite being down eleven runs, Pulaski continued to battle. A solo home run in the sixth by Zaborowski made it 21-11. Then in the seventh, Zaborowski came back and proceeded to hit a three-run homer to make it 21-14.

Elizabethton added on another run in the eighth thanks to an RBI double from Phillips. In the bottom of the frame, a two RBI single from pinch hitter Conner Fuhrman then made the final 21- 16.

The win went to Cole Rodriguez, as he went 3 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs off six hits, while walking three and striking out five. The loss went to Drew Blake, as he went 1 1/3 innings, allowing just seven earned runs off five hits, while walking four and striking out two.

Elizabethton will now go back home to play the Burlington Sock Puppets, while Pulaski continues their homestand against the Kingsport Axmen.

-By Kyle Manalo