KINGSPORT, TN - The Johnson City Doughboys came back from an early deficit to defeat the Kingsport Axmen, 13-7, on Saturday night at Hunter-Wright Stadium.

The Axmen (0-3) jumped out to a 4-0 lead for the second straight night, with a barrage of hits in the first inning. Run-scoring base knocks by Ben Rozenblum, Jordan Varela-Payne and Anthony Tulimero staked Kingsport an early four-run advantage.

The Doughboys (1-1), after a day off Friday, struck back with a six-run third thanks to a grand slam by catcher Edwin De La Cruz. Cherokee Nichols added RBI doubles in the fifth and seventh, the latter giving Johnson City an 8-7 edge. Two more costly errors set the table for insurance runs stretching the lead to 13-7 with a four-run eighth.

Kingsport’s bats have been a shining element early in games this young season, as Tulimero stroked another two-run double in the third. The Axmen would take a short-lived lead thanks to a Hunter Fitz-Gerald RBI single in the fourth, however late innings have been tough for the home team, unable to muster up much of a threat after that fourth-inning rally.

Kingsport and Johnson City meet again Sunday at 5:30 PM ET. Fans can hear all Axmen games by going to https://www.mlb.com/appalachian-league/kingsport/fans/audio-listen-live.

Get your tickets for this local rivalry at www.axmenbaseball.com.