Bethesda Big Train Summer College Baseball

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P. O. Box 30306
Bethesda, MD 20824

Adkins does it again


by Zach Stone and Jason Krakower
Saturday, July 11th, 2009
Click through to Box Score

For the second night in a row, the Big Train set the stage for Luke Adkins (Mississippi State) to play the hero, and once again he delivered. Down 5-4 with two outs in the ninth, Adkins delivered a two-run double to win the game and complete the comeback. For the second night in the row, the Big Train did not lead until their final at-bat.

The Big Train offense was held in check for the first three innings by Bombers pitcher Daniel Stinsman, who came into the game with a 1.84 earned run average and a 3-0 record, but broke through in the fourth. With two outs in the inning, designated hitter Cody Freeman (Mississippi State) walked and stole second, setting the table for third baseman Michael Bottoms (Morehead State). Bottoms connected with a single to left field, bringing Freeman home from second. That play cut the deficit to one after the Bombers scored two runs on Big Train starter Tyler Pilkington (UNC-Charlotte), who pitched three innings and struck out two batters. 

Gabe Feldman (Wake Forest) came on in relief of Pilkington, allowing a run in three innings of work. Feldman gave up two hits and struck out three in his relief appearance.

Bethesda's second run came in a similar fashion to the first. Freeman reached on a single and advanced to third on a single by first baseman Mike Celenza (Salisbury), who took second on an error by the College Park center fielder. With both runners in scoring position, Bottoms again drove home Freeman with a single. On an unusual play, the Big Train tied the game at 3 when Celenza came home on a balk by the Bombers pitcher.

The Bombers strung together four singles in the seventh inning, taking a 5-3 lead.

The chances of a comeback seemed remote after the Bombers quickly got two fly ball outs to start the bottom of the ninth inning. The Big Train kept battling though, using a mix of power and patience to pull off an improbable comeback. Eli Boike (Michigan State) worked a walk, and he cut the lead to one after a double by Danny Stienstra (San Jose State).

For the second straight game, Big Train's opponent intentionally walked the red-hot Jarrod Parks (Mississippi State) in order to face Adkins, and Adkins made them pay once again. With two outs and two strikes, down 5-4 with runners on first and second, Adkins lined the ball into leftfield. Off the bat of the lefthanded Adkins, the ball sliced towards the Bombers' leftfielder, who dove for the ball. He could not control it, however, and the ball ricocheted off him and past him. Stienstra easily scored from 2nd, and Parks raced around the bases to score from first before the throw. The fans erupted, while the Big Train dugout instantly cleared.

"It's rare to have a game-winning opporutinty, and its even rarer to experience that back-to-back games," Adkins said.

Mike Matta (Mount Saint Mary's) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win.

"Mike just comes in and throws strikes," Adkins said. "He keeps the ball low, and gets a lot of groundballs."