Big Train 9, Express 2

Box Score │ Season Stats

When Big Train starting pitcher Robby Smithson (Lipscomb) gave up a lead-off double, a walk, a single, and another walk, he probably didn't think he would still be on the mound three hours later. He would have been wrong. Smithson got out of the top of the first down only 1-0, and the Big Train scored twice in the bottom of the first for a lead they never relinquished in recording a 9-2 victory Thursday night in front of 414 rain soaked fans.

Nick Cleckler (Jacksonville State) and Rhett Teller (St. Leo) both singled and scored in the bottom of the first. In the third, Bethesda increased its margin to 4-1 when Andrew Smith (San Francisco) singled, Drew Carson (Southern Mississippi) got drilled by a pitch, and ,b>Trey Cuevas (Southern Mississippi) hit a two RBI double. Smith doubled twice and was four-for five on the night. Pinch-hitter Brett Hoeflich (Southern Mississippi) led off the ninth with a home run up in the trees beyond the fence in leftfield.

Despite a rain delay of one hour and 12 minutes in the top of the third inning, Smithson pitched seven innings for the win, allowing only the one earned run in the first and five hits while striking out seven.

Rockville Express (11-16) 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 -- 2 6 1
Bethesda Big Train (18-13) 2 0 2 0 2 1 1 1 - -- 9 16 2

WP: Smithson (2-2) LP: Olbrychowski (2-2)
HR: Hoeflich (BBT) (2); 2B: Brown (RE), Cuevas (BBT), Smith (BBT) (two), Knoble (BBT)
Time: 2 hours, 33 minutes (not including 1 hour and 12 minute rain delay)
Attendance: 414

Big Train Notes: The thunderstorm forced about 250 fans to flee the seats at Povich Field and jam into the Davis Family Picnic Pavilion to find out who won the raffle prizes. It was a great way to spend a one hour rain delay as every prize was claimed and very few left unhappy... Kids 12 and under ran around the bases before the game and then joined Elmo, SpongeBob Square Pants, and Cat in the Hat to help Homer celebrate his birthday... Four huge cakes were consumed by the Povich faithful... Thanks to Carnival Day for providing a moonbounce and giant slide...The game was sponsored by EuroMotorcars.