GREENEVILLE – Despite a two-run rally from Bristol in the top of the ninth inning, the Greeneville Flyboys notched 20 strikeouts and a 5-4 victory on Wednesday night at Pioneer Park.   

Greeneville (7-4) would send 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Flyboys scored four runs to take a 5-0 lead against the State Liners. Flyboys' first baseman Christian Ficca also delivered his first home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning.

Bryce Mayer had to work out of an early jam on the mound for Greeneville as Bristol loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning. Mayer would record his third strikeout of the inning to strand the bases loaded for Greeneville.

The Greeneville offense would be kept in check by Bristol pitching until the bottom of the third inning. Ficca opened the inning by driving a baseball over the wall in right-center field to put the Flyboys on top 1-0. The home run was the first hit by a Greeneville batter at home this season.

Walks would hurt Bristol in the bottom of the fourth as four straight walks allowed Greeneville to take a 2-0 lead before Daylen Reyes delivered an RBI single in his first game for the Flyboys to make it 3-0. Two more runs would be added in the inning thanks to an RBI groundout and wild pitch as Greeneville took a 5-0 advantage to the fifth inning.

Bristol scored the final four runs of the contest as the State Liners scored a run in the sixth inning and eighth inning off run-scoring singles to trim the deficit to 5-2. Greeneville reliever Cal Lambert looked to have things in control in the top of the ninth inning after recording the first two outs with relative ease.

The State Liners would not go down without a fight, rallying to load the bases and score a pair of runs to trim the Greeneville lead to 5-4. Following an RBI single and error, Lambert would get a groundball up the middle as Trevor Austin stepped on second to record the final out and preserve the victory.

Mason Turner (1-0) recorded the victory for Greeneville after yielding one run to go along with six strikeouts through two innings of work. Mayer took the no-decision for the Flyboys after fanning nine batters through four innings on the mound. Logan Peterson also worked two innings of relief, allowing one run to go along with four strikeouts.

Ficca finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs for Greeneville, while Reyes recorded a pair of singles for the Flyboys. Austin, Tayler Aguilar, and Chris Williams each added a hit for Greeneville in the contest.

Greeneville heads to Elizabethton for a two-game series beginning on Thursday, June 17th at 7 p.m. Following the two-game road trip, Greeneville hosts the Pulaski River Turtles on Saturday and Sunday at Pioneer Park. The first 500 fans through the gate on June 19th will receive a throwback Trevor Bauer Bobblehead. Sunday is the first Kids Club Day and the perfect opportunity to play catch with your dad on the field for Father’s Day. Tickets are available by calling the Flyboys ticket office at 423-609-7400. Be sure to visit www.FlyboysBaseball.com for news, upcoming games, promotions, tickets, and more.