Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

STAR CORRESPONDENT

On Saturday night, the Elizabethton River Riders used six pitchers to secure a 3-0 victory over Bristol at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark. Bristol starter Ethan Bobo held the River Riders hitless through five innings before running into trouble in the top of the sixth.

Left fielder Nick Hockemeyer doubled to left field to lead off the frame for Elizabethton, and Cadyn Karl’s single put runners at the corners. Second baseman Jackson Berry tapped back to the mound, where Bobo caught Hockemeyer in a rundown, eventually getting the putout at the plate while Karl and Berry moved into scoring position at second and third.

A single from first baseman Josh Hines scored both runners to stake the Riders (17-26) to a 2-0 lead.

“We came out and made the adjustments,” said River Riders manager Jeremy Owens. “We got good innings from our pitchers, and they attacked the zone effectively.”

Johnny Montgomery got the win — his third of the season — with one inning of shutout ball after relieving Dane Bjorn in the fifth frame. Bjorn pitched four innings, giving up no runs on one hit. Bjorn walked two and struck out five in an effective outing for the left-hander.

Ethan Bobo was solid over five innings for Bristol, giving up no runs on no hits until the sixth. Bobo allowed two runs on three hits while walking two and striking out four. In the sixth, the Riders turned to Carson Caudill, and he surrendered one hit while striking out two.

Over the seventh, eighth, and ninth, the Riders used Zane Danielson, Cole Torbett, and Sam Novotny, and each came through with shutdown innings. Novotny earned his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

In the Riders’ eighth inning, designated hitter Jayden Lobliner doubled to right field, and Hines’ second hit of the game plated Lobliner. Hines finished two-for-four with three runs batted in.

River Riders 3-0

River Riders 000 002 010 – 3 5 0
Bristol 000 000 000 – 0 5 2

W – Montgomery (3-3)
L – Bobo (1-6)