In Tough Battle, Big Train Fall Just Short

Saturday, June 27, 2009
by Seth Ross
e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org!

The Herndon Braves have cracked a case that no other CRSL team has solved; with Saturday night's 8-6 win, the Braves are 2-0 against the Big Train at Povich Field. The Big Train are 5-0 at home against the other six teams.

The Braves got on the board early with a couple of breaks. Back-to-back singles each scored a run, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead.

The Big Train were able to overcome this deficit, as they answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Danny Stienstra (San Jose State) started the scoring with a sacrifice fly, and Mike Celenza (Salisbury) and Ryan Mulligan (Saint Mary's CA) each delivered bases loaded walks.

The Braves re-took the lead in the top of the fourth inning, this time for good. Four runners crossed the plate, highlighted by a two-run double.

The Big Train cut into the Braves' 6-3 lead, as Justin Roland (UNC Charlotte) doubled and scored in the fourth inning.

The knockout blow was delivered in the sixth inning, as Corey Taylor crushed his sixth homer of the season over the left-field wall. The two-run shot gave the Braves a 8-4 lead that the Big Train could not quite surmount.

In the bottom of the ninth with the score 8-5, the Big Train loaded the bases with one out, but were able to score only one run.