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BY SPENCER CIHAK

BRISTOL – The Elizabethton River Riders were swept by the State Liners in Bristol Wednesday night at Boyce Cox Field. Elizabethton has fallen to 23-20, 5.5 games back of first behind the State Liners and the first place Greeneville Flyboys.

After 15 days, the River Riders and Bristol State Liners resumed play in the bottom of the third with one out and a 1-0 Elizabethton lead at Boyce Cox Field as the home team.

Starting RHP Alex Brewer resumed his start and gave up two runs in the top of the fourth, 2-1 State Liners.

In the top of the fifth, Bristol scored four runs punctuated with a three-run home run to left field by first baseman Tate Kight.

The State Liners continued to build on their lead when Mike Valdez scored on an error by left fielder DJ Sullivan.

In the bottom of the sixth, designated hitter Sam Thompson brought in second baseman Marcus Brown on an RBI walk, 7-2 Bristol.

Elizabethton continued to chip away with a sacrifice fly by left fielder Robert Bavon to score Chase Adkison, 7-3 State Liners.

Bristol slammed the door with two runs scored in the top of the ninth, 9-3 State Liners.

Adkison singled in the bottom of the ninth to score first baseman Eli Young to bring the final score to 9-4, State Liners.

The State Liners jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first, punctuated with a three-run home run by Valdez.

In the bottom of the second, Bristol added a sixth run on a single by third baseman Cort Maynard.

In the top of the fourth, Elizabethton responded by scoring five runs. Jonathan Soto singled to score centerfielder Sullivan. Second baseman Logan Sanders singled in Young from third.

John Montes hit a ground ball to shortstop Matthew Golda who threw the ball out of play, scoring catcher Reagan Guthrie. Sanders scored on a passed ball, 6-5 Bristol.

In the bottom of the fourth, Kight singled to score Maynard from third. Valdez hit his second three-run home run to extend the State Liners lead to 10-5.

The Elizabethton River Riders scored their sixth and final run in the top of the sixth inning when Guthrie scored on an error by Kight.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bristol scored their final three runs to give the game a 13-6 lead.