Bethesda Big Train Baseball

WICKSWAT FLIRTS WITH NO-NO; TRAIN SWEEPS BOMBERS Box Scores

Big Train starter Matt Wickswat (Santa Clara) had a no-hitter through six innings in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. The Big Train took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Preston Pehrson (Texas) doubled and scored on a single by Luke Adkins (Southern Mississippi). As CRSL doubleheaders are made up of two seven inning games, Wickswat was three outs from a no-hitter. But Chris Nann (Northern Kentucky) singled to leftfield for the Bombers in the top of the seventh. When Wickswat exited, the bases were loaded and only one out. Big Train reliever Brian Anderson (San Francisco) fanned two Bomber batters to preserve the victory. Jim Britton (St. Bonaventure) was the hard luck loser, throwing a four hit complete game.

College Park Bombers (9-12) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 0 1 1
Bethesda Big Train (12-8) 0 0 0 0 0 1 x -- 1 4 2

WP: Wickswat (1-0)
LP: Britton (2-3)
Save: Anderson
2B: Pehrson (BBT)
Attendance: 210
Time: One hour and 39 minutes

In the second game of Friday's doubleheader, the Big Train looked to have a promising second inning when the first two hitters singled. But a routine flyout to right and confusion on the basepaths turned into an improbable inning-ending triple-play. They tried it again in the top of the third and made it work. Designated-hitter Chris Taylor (UNC-Charlotte) and Brian Dozier (Southern Mississippi) singled. Taylor scored on an RBI groundout by Nick Cleckler (Jacksonville State). Big Train starter Keith Moreland (UNC-Charlotte) pitched three scoreless innings before handing the ball to Austin Hinkle (Coastal Carolina). Hinkle held the score at 1-0 through five innings, but in the top of the sixth designated hitter Thomas Dolan (Temple) doubled and Nick Jowers (Maryland) singled and both scored to give the Bombers a 2-1 lead. The Big Train responded. Matt Long (Santa Clara) and Preston Pehrson (Texas) singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brian Adkins (Southern Mississippi) and a single by Steven Leach (Jacksonville State). Advantage Bethesda, 3-2. With one out in the top of the seventh (and final) inning, Matt Bodenchuk (Mesa State) and Sherman Reed (Southern) singled. Wyatt Stewart (Richmond) replaced Hinkle, and Jowers singled home Bodenchuk to tie the game at three. Dolan, who had replaced College Park starter Michael Bell (Catonsville CC) in the sixth, allowed a hit and a walk in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out the side to send the game to extra-innings. Stewart walked the lead-off batter in the top of the first extra inning, but Pehrson gunned him down trying to steal second. Stewart retired the next two batters. Dolan returned the favor, walking Big Train lead-off Leach. Josh Dietz (Bowling Green) sacrificed Leach to second and Dozier singled him home to give Bethesda a 4-3 win.

College Park Bombers (9-13) 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 -- 3 9 1
Bethesda Big Train (13-8) 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 -- 4 10 0

WP: Stewart (1-1)
LP: Dolan (2-1)
2B Dolan (CPB)
Attendance: 535
Time: Two hours and 17 minutes

Big Train Notes: Nail-biters -- eight of the Big Train's first 21 games have been decided by one run, with the Big Train winning four and losing four. Fourteen have been within two runs, with the Big Train winning 7 and losing 7... Our largest loss was 6-3 to the Redbirds on June 12... It was Maryland Nighthawks Night on Friday with former NBA player Lawrence Moten, mascot Dunkin' and JP of the Sports Junkies. Fans brought food to donate to the Manna Food Center. Our sponsor was Natelli Communities.