Johnson City couldn’t muster a run through the first seven innings, and fell to Princeton, 8-1, on Saturday night at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.

The Whistlepigs (23-19) jumped ahead early with two first inning runs before Dylan Rogers hit a three-run home run, his league-leading eighth of the season, to highlight a four-run second inning. When the dust cleared, Princeton led 6-0 after two frames and had chased Johnson City starter Carlos Nolasco out of the game.

The Doughboys (13-25-1) scored their only run when Jaxson Crull came in from third base on a balk call on Princeton pitcher John Micolaicyk in the eighth inning.

Johnson City mustered just one drawn walk all night, their fewest of the season. Ashton King was the only Doughboy to finish with more than one hit, going 2-for-4.

Austen Kessler threw an 1 ⅔ innings of scoreless ball in relief for Johnson City, while Tyler Horvath tossed two scoreless innings with only one hit given up.

Johnson City is now 0-3 against Princeton this season, getting outscored 32-6 by the Whistlepigs in those three contests.

NEXT:

Johnson City will face Princeton on Sunday evening in Game 2 of the series. The final meeting of the two squads will begin at 5:30 p.m. The game will be a seven-inning contest