Danville scores early in win over Elizabethton in Appy League action Thursday night

Danville (22–17) wasted no time, plating four runs in its first at-bat for the momentum it held the rest of the way. Maximo Martinez (Southern California) started things when he scored on a fielding error and Wyatt Shaw (Valparaiso) made it a two-run game with his RBI groundout to first. Caleb Ricks (Notre Dame) capped the big frame with a two-run single through the right side that gave Danville a 4–0 lead…

PHOTO: Brian Cendejas.

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — The Danville Otterbots scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back in an 8–4 win over the Elizabethton River Riders in Appalachian League action at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark Thursday night.

Danville (22–17) wasted no time, plating four runs in its first at-bat for the momentum it held the rest of the way. Maximo Martinez (Southern California) started things when he scored on a fielding error and Wyatt Shaw (Valparaiso) made it a two-run game with his RBI groundout to first. Caleb Ricks (Notre Dame) capped the big frame with a two-run single through the right side that gave Danville a 4–0 lead.

Elizabethton (19–21) got on the board in the bottom of the first, pulling within 4–1 on Austin Rose’s RBI single to left. The River Riders kept their rally going in the bottom of the third on Rose’s two-run double that closed their gap to 4–3.

Danville got a run back in the top of the fifth on Devon Wilkes’ RBI groundout to second. The scoring continued for the Otterbots in the top of the fifth when Shaw scored on an error and Brody Jindra worked an RBI bases-loaded walk for a 7–3 lead.

Once again, Elizabethton found an answer, pulling within 7–4 on Miles Shore’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the sixth.

Judson Hartwell (Georgia Tech) capped the scoring for the ‘Bots, scoring a run in the top of the ninth on a balk for an 8–4 lead.

Matthew Kelly (Carolina) got the win on the bump, giving up four runs — all earned — on four hits and striking out two in five innings thrown. Peyton Fowler (Mississippi State) picked up the save, throwing four inning of no-hit, shutout relief, while striking out seven.

Ricks led Danville with two RBI while Jindra, Wilkes (Cal-State Bakersfield) and Shaw drove in a run as well for the Otterbots.

Rose (Ohio State) led Elizabethton with three RBI while Shore (Walters State CC) drove in a run.

Danville returns to action tomorrow when it takes on the Johnson City Doughboys on the road at 7 p.m.