Johnson, Hodges lift Otterbots to close win over Elizabethton

Johnson, Hodges lift Otterbots to close win over Elizabethton

Cole Johnson drove in four runs, including the game-winner in the top of the ninth inning, and the Danville Otterbots’ bullpen did the rest in a thrilling win over the Elizabethton River Riders in Appalachian League action Tuesday night …

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — Cole Johnson drove in four runs, including the game-winner in the top of the ninth inning, and the Danville Otterbots’ bullpen did the rest in a thrilling 6–5 win over the Elizabethton River Riders in Appalachian League action Tuesday night.

Two days after dropping a sudden-death heartbreaker to Pulaski, Danville (6–5) found itself locked into another tightrope contest against Elizabethton as the two sides entered the top of the ninth engaged in a 5–5 tie.

Tanner McCammon (Elon) got a one-out rally going with his single to center field and Aden Hill (VCU) followed with a base knock of his own to put runners on first and second base. An Otterbots’ flyout to center got them down to their final out of the frame but Johnson (Oklahoma State) continued his brilliant night with a single to left that plated McCammon to give the ‘Bots a 6–5 lead.

Garrett Hodges (Gardner-Webb) took over for Danville out of the bullpen and got off to a good start, inducing a lead-off groundout. Kade Huff (Arizona) continued his solid night with a single to third and pinch runner Kevin Hall Jr. (Grambling State) promptly stole second. Hodges did not flinch, getting a pair of groundouts to seal the game and pick up his first save of the year.

Danville entered the top of the sixth facing a 5–4 deficit. However, the Otterbots struck back for a run in the frame to knot the score. Johnson and Jaxon Goldberg (Central Florida) reached on errors to kick off the rally and Antonio Cordeiro (St. Bonaventure) loaded the bases the hard way after he was hit by a pitch. Addison Smith (Oklahoma State) knotted the score at 5–5 when he brought Johnson home with his flyout to center.

Elizabethton (4–8) broke a 4–4 tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Kain Collins led things off with an infield single and Jayden Lobliner (Kansas State) followed with a base knock to put runners on first and second. Collins and Lobliner advanced on a balk and Collins gave the River Riders a 5–4 lead when he scored on a passed ball.

The fourth inning proved interesting as the two sides combined for five runs. The ‘Bots got the explosion going with a pair of runs in their half on Johnson’s two-run double that plated Hill and Micah Dean (Kansas State) for a 4–1 lead.

Elizabethton kept the offensive theme going in its half, scoring three runs on Huff’s three-run home run that knotted the score at 4–4.

Danville delivered the first blow, scoring a run in the top of the second on Johnson’s RBI sacrifice fly to center. The Otterbots doubled down on their lead in the third on Alex Conover’s solo home run that made it a 2–0 game.

Elizabethton got on the board in its half of the third when Carlos Irizarry (Penn State-Harrisburg) scored on a fielder’s choice.

Johnson had a monster night for Danville, driving in a game-high four RBI on a pair of hits. Smith and Conover (Cowley CC) drove in a run apiece as well.

Huff led Elizabethton with three RBI.

Maison Martinez (VCU) got the win on the bump, throwing two innings of hitless ball while striking out two. Mike Joyce (Florence-Darlington Tech JC) was perfect in the start, striking out all six batters he faced. James Guyette (Kansas State) struck out four in two innings of relief while Ty Lawson (UNC-Wilmington) fanned three in two innings pitched.

Danville returns to action tomorrow night when it concludes its two-game set with Elizabethton at 7 p.m.