Big Train Split Doubleheader With Orioles

First Game

The Big Train drew to within one game of the first place Baltimore Orioles when they won the first game of tonight's doubleheader 5-4 in ten innings.

The Orioles got on the board early in the top of the first inning. Shortstop Chris Jackson led off the game with a single and later came in to score from third on an RBI groundout off the bat of first baseman Justin Bour.

In the top of the second inning, the Orioles tacked on another run. Left fielder Chris Henderson led off the inning with a double into the left-center field gap. Catcher Jordan Kopycinski then drove him in with a single into left to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Big Train came back with two runs of their own. First baseman Jon Karcich (Santa Clara) got on base with a one-out single into left field before designated hitter Chance Harst (Southern Mississippi) hit an opposite field home run over the right field wall to tie the game at two.

Bour regained the lead for the Orioles in the top of the sixth inning with a solo shot to left, his third home run of the season.

The Big Train came from behind in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie up the game. Harst led off with a double. Right fielder Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) then was hit by a pitch and left fielder Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State) reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Later in the inning, with the Big Train down to their final out, third baseman Chris Duffy (Central Florida) drew a walk to force in Harst and send the game into extra innings.

After two scoreless innings, the Orioles broke the tie in the top of the tenth. Third baseman Alex Bucholtz doubled to start the inning. Designated hitter Joe Velleggia then drove him in with an RBI single.

The Big Train came from behind once again to score two runs and win the game in the bottom of the tenth inning. Leading off, Duffy doubled off the right field wall. Second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) then moved the tying run into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt down the first base line. Shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) singled to tie the game at four. Later in the inning, right fielder Eli Boike (Michigan State) hit a walk-off single into right field to win the game.

Second Game

Attempting to draw even with the Orioles in the standings, the Big Train lost the second game 4-1 to split the doubleheader.

Once again, the Orioles got on the board in the top of the first inning. Catcher Joe Velleggia and first baseman Justin Bour both walked before third baseman Alex Bucholtz drove in Velleggia with an RBI single.

The Big Train came back with a run in the bottom of the first inning. An RBI triple by shortstop Steven Leach scored second baseman Bert Smith who had singled to start the inning.

The third inning was a big one for the Orioles. Designated hitter Jordan Kopycinski, shortstop Chris Jackson, left fielder Steven Bumbry, and Bour all had hits as the Orioles scored three runs to make the score 4-1.

The bullpen pitched very well for the Big Train in the second game. Derek Caldwell (Rider) and Evan Frederickson (Virginia Tech) combined to pitch two and two-thirds hitless innings, striking out four.

Game Notes

Tonight the Big Train welcomed Screech, the mascot of the Washington Nationals. The big Train would also like to thank the Hometowne USA Barbershop Chorus for their rendition of the National Anthem and other baseball songs. Tonight's games' sponsors were White Flint and the Trawick Foundation. The Carl M. Freeman Foundation Non-Profits of the night were the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, Life skills Workshop, and the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County. The Big Train's next home game will be on Tuesday, July 17th when they face the Herndon Braves. Tonight's combined attendance was 921.

First Game

Orioles 110 001 000 1 491

Big Train 000 200 100 2 571

Box Score (Game 1)

Second Game

Orioles 130 000 0 451

Big Train 100 000 0 150

Box Score (Game 2)