Flyboys Struggle In Burlington

BURLINGTON, NC. — Greeneville surrendered a 3-0 lead late in the ball game to the Burlington Sock Puppets on Thursday, falling 8-3 in Burlington, NC.

The Flyboys held their hosts scoreless until the seventh, before giving up four runs, and four more in the eighth to fall to 22-13 on the season.

Drew Culbertson put the Flyboys on the board in the third with a solo home run over the left field fence. It wasn’t until the top of the seventh that Greeneville would extend its lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Tyler Inge worked a walk and pushed a run through, 2-0, Greeneville.

Nicklas Williams hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, in which Avery Collins scored on a tag up, 3-0. However, the Flyboys were unable to get any more runs in that inning, leaving two stranded.

The Sock Puppets were quick to respond in their following at bat, loading up the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly drove in Burlington’s first run, which was then followed by an RBI single and two-run double, to put the home team ahead, 4-3.

Greeneville’s attempts to regain the lead were fruitless, as the offense wasn’t able to get anything going. Burlington’s offense was just getting started, scoring four more in the eighth on back-to-back singles, followed by a sacrifice fly and an RBI double, putting the game out of reach and stealing the win.

Greeneville only mustered three hits, consisting of Culbertson’s solo home run, and singles from Williams and Brodie Johnston.

Six total Flyboys pitchers took the mound in the loss, with Blake Julius drawing the start. He threw the first five innings, giving up no runs or hits, walking two and striking out three. Cody Carson (3-1) took the loss, pitching 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, four runs and walking three. The other four Flyboys’ pitchers combined for 2 2/3 innings, four hits, four runs, one walk and one strikeout.