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By: Andrew Smith

The Bristol State Liners (6-18) earned their fifth road victory on the season by defeating the Elizabethton River Riders (11-13) on Tuesday night by a final score of 10-3. First baseman Eric Erato went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI.

The loss caused the River Riders to fall yet another game behind the first-place Kingsport Axmen, as they now are eight games behind the West division leader. Meanwhile, they fell into a tie for third place with the Johnson City Doughboys.

The State Liners got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. Center fielder Mo Hampton Jr. led off the inning with a single before coming home on a double by Erato. After a strikeout and a flyout, Erato came home on a single by second baseman Justin Rubin. It was 2-0 after one and a half.

Bristol’s offense would come alive in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, the State Liners got four runs on three hits, while also earning three walks. The fifth saw another run added on a single by Rubin to bring home catcher Manny Garza. At the game’s halfway point, the State Liners had extended their lead to 7-0.

The River Riders loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth to try and cut into the deficit. Right fielder Morgan Colopy grounded out to shortstop Hector Mangual to bring home left fielder Issac Williams. Shortstop Peyton Basler also came home in the frame on a wild pitch. The lead was 7-2 through six full innings.

Bristol got those two runs back in the top of the seventh. Erato brought home Hampton on another double. Then, Erato scored on an RBI groundout by Rubin. Heading into the stretch, it was now 9-2, State Liners.

The State Liners got one more in the top of the eighth. Erato hit an RBI single to bring home designated hitter Jack Tomlinson. That would be the end of the frame, however, as Hampton would be thrown out trying to go first to third on the hit. The run did score, though, as it was now 10-2.

E-Town would get the run back in their half of the eighth. Williams led off the frame with a triple to deep center field. Then, after back-to-back strikeouts, designated hitter Brennan Orf hit a single to bring home Williams. The game was now 10-3, and that is where it would stay.

The two teams will finish the two-game series on Wednesday night. First pitch from Elizabethton will be at 7 p.m.

Final                       R      H    E    LOB

State Liners          10     14    0      7

River Riders          3        5    0      6

W: Ray Berry (1-0)

L: Landry Kyle (0-2)