Thomas doubles, drives in run

Big Train 8, Redbirds 3

Box Score │ Season Stats

The Big Train kept on rolling on Thursday night. 440 fans braved hot, humid, and hazy weather to watch the Big Train defeat the Maryland Redbirds 8-3 at Povich Field.

The Big Train jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Drew Carson (Southern Mississippi) singled, Bryan Thomas (Virginia Tech) reached on a fielder's choice, Nick Cleckler (Jacksonville State) singled, Steve Fay (Mount St. Mary's) singled and Thomas scored on an error. Cleckler advanced to third on that error and scored on an RBI groundout by Ken Beamer (Findlay). The visiting Redbirds tied the score at 2 in the top of the fourth taking advantage of two walks with RBI singles by Brad Duvall (Bucknell) and Tommy Herrmann (Ursinus).

The Big Train got those two runs back in the bottom of the fourth as Thomas and Cleckler led off with singles. Fay singled to score Thomas. Cleckler stole home on the back end of a double steal. In the fifth, Carson walked and scored on an RBI double by Thomas. In the sixth, the Redbirds scored courtesy of three walks and a hit to bring the score to 5-3. Bethesda added insurance runs in the sixth and the seventh.

Big Train starter Kenny Moreland (Christopher Newport) pitched 5 and one-third innings allowing three earned runs while striking out six. Big Train relievers Robby Smithson (Lipscomb), Steve Stone (Mount St. Mary's), and Wyatt Stewart (Richmond) closed out the game.

Maryland Redbirds (8-8) 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 -- 3 7 4
Bethesda Big Train (12-5) 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 2 - -- 8 12 2

WP: Moreland ; LP: Dupski
2B: Lemon (BBT); Thomas (BBT)
Attendance: 440
Time: 3 hours, 18 minutes

Big Train Notes: In recognition of his 23rd birthday, the Big Train players poured a bucket of ice water over the head of Big Train General Manager Alex Thompson during the pre-game ceremony... Keyote was in the house to celebrate Frederick Keys Night for the seventh straight year... The game was sponsored by Ourisman Ford... Big Train lead-off batter Jonnie Knoble (San Francisco) walked twice Thursday night but ended his hit streak at eight games... Cleckler and Lemon extended their hit streaks to eight games each.