Pulaski opens up big series against Danville with win

It was the bottom of the sixth inning that made the difference as Pulaski (14–16) scored a trio of runs to break open a tie game and take a lead it didn’t relinquish the rest of the way. With the score knotted at 9–9, Eli Hudgins (Radford) pushed the River Turtles in front with his RBI single to right field and Aubrey Kearns (Morehead State) extended their lead to 12–9 with his two-run double…

PHOTO: Brian Cendejas

PULASKI, Va. — The Pulaski River Turtles edged out the Danville Otterbots 12–10 in a big Appalachian League showdown at Calfee Park Friday night.

It was the bottom of the sixth inning that made the difference as Pulaski (14–16) scored a trio of runs to break open a tie game and take a lead it didn’t relinquish the rest of the way. With the score knotted at 9–9, Eli Hudgins (Radford) pushed the River Turtles in front with his RBI single to right field and Aubrey Kearns (Morehead State) extended their lead to 12–9 with his two-run double.

Wyatt Shaw (Valparaiso) got Danville (16–14) a run back in the top of the eighth on his RBI groundout that closed the Otterbots’ deficit to 12–10. That’s as close as the ‘Bots got as Hunter Howard (Radford) closed things down for the save.

Danville wasted little time establishing itself, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Kyle Krupp (Morehead State) got the Otterbots on the board when he scored on a Pulaski miscue and Devon Wilkes (Cal State Bakersfield) made it a two-run game with his RBI single to left. Shaw pushed the lead to 4–0 with his two-run single.

Pulaski didn’t miss a step, bouncing back with three runs in its half of the first. Reginald Samuel II (Prairie View A&M) got the rally going with his RBI groundout and Noah Toole (Radford) closed the gap to 4–3 with his two-run home run to right-center.

Keeping the see-saw in motion, the ‘Bots struck back with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Tyler Ness (McLennan CC) scored on a fielding error and Wilkes stepped up again with an RBI sacrifice flyout to center that gave the Otterbots a 6–3 lead.

Staying with the theme, the River Turtles struck back with two runs in the bottom of the second. Kearns started things off with an RBI single through the right side and Hudgins scored moments later on a fielding error to get Pulaski within 6–5.

The mood swings continued in the bottom of the third when the River Turtles pushed ahead on a pair of runs. Hudgins knotted the score with his RBI single to left and Kearns pushed the River Turtles in front with his RBI bases-loaded walk that made it a 7–6 game.

Jon Young Jr. (Alabama) scored a run in the bottom of the fourth on a wild pitch to give Pulaski an 8–6 lead.

Danville pushed the momentum back to its side in the top of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on Ness’s RBI sacrifice fly to left and Austin Hawke’s RBI ground out that knotted the score at 8–8.

Adam Haight (Oregon State) pushed the River Turtles back in front with his solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.

The drama continued in the top of the sixth as Ness smacked an RBI double that knotted the score at 9–9. Pulaski put together one last big push, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Kearns led Pulaski with four RBI while Hudgins and Toole drove in two runs each. Haight and Samuel II drove in a run each.

Andrew Brooks (Enterprise State — Ala.) got the win on the bump, scattering three hits and allowing a run — earned — while striking out one in 2.1 innings of relief.

Shaw paced Danville with three RBI while Wilkes and Ness drove in a pair of runs each.

Danville returns to action tomorrow night when it takes on Pulaski on the road at 7 p.m.