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By: Andrew Smith

The Elizabethton River Riders (9-9) finally found their way back in the win column on Tuesday night as they defeated the Bluefield Ridge Runners (7-11) by a final score of 9-5. Third baseman Brody Green went 2-for-3 with four RBI in the win.

The victory was the first for the River Riders since June 11, a 5-0 win over the Bristol State Liners at Boyce Cox Field. Despite ending the seven-game slide, Elizabethton was unable to gain a game in the standings on first-place Kingsport.

E-Town got the scoring started in the bottom of the second. Right fielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu and first baseman Brennan Orf both reached to start the frame on back-to-back errors by the Ridge Runners defense. The River Riders were able to cash in on the mistakes as Green hit a two-run single, his first in the blue and yellow this summer. The Riders led 2-0 after two.

The River Riders added three in the third and in the fourth. In the third, after designated hitter Harrison Rodgers hit a double, Owusu-Asiedu hit an RBI double to score Rodgers. Owusu-Asiedu scored himself on an error by Bluefield. Orf scored on a wild pitch in the inning as well, making 5-0 after three.

In the fourth inning, center fielder Zach Freeman and left fielder Isaac Williams both reached to start the inning. Freeman would eventually score on another Ridge Runner error in the field. Williams and Owusu-Asiedu would score in the frame as well when Green hit another two-run single. Green said that it felt good to contribute in the lineup.

“It’s just nice to get back on track, finally,” Green said. “It’s been a bit of a bumpy road hitting-wise lately, but it’s just nice to finally get my swing back a little bit and help the team out.”

Elizabethton added one more in the bottom of the sixth. After a strikeout, Owusu-Asiedu singled, Orf walked and Green walked to load the bases. Then, shortstop Ty Peters would draw a base on balls to bring in Owusu-Asiedu, making it 9-0 after six.

The Ridge Runners tried to come back in the last third of the game, posting one run in the seventh, three runs in the eighth, and one run in the ninth, but the attempt fell short, giving E-Town the 9-5 victory. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark in the series finale.

 

Final                     R H E

Ridge Runners    5 10 5

River Riders         9 9 2

 

W: Holmes (1-0)

L: Brown (2-1)