Big Train Fall to Thunderbolts 7-5 to Split Doubleheader

by Alex Rubinson

Russell Petersen and company by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Big Train found themselves down 7-1 in the sixth inning in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. The Big Train loaded the bases for Parker Corbin (University of Maryland). With the count full at 3-2, Corbin smacked one to deep centerfield. T-bolts centerfielder Caleb Sturtevant appeared to have tracked it down for an incredible catch but the ball popped loose as he hit the wall. All three runs scored to cut the deficit in half.

“I just stuck to my approach and tried to get a good pitch to hit,” Corbin said. “I battled off a few changeups, and I got a pitch to hit and put it to center.”

Parker Corbin by Mark Thalman

After a slow start, Corbin has swung the bat better lately. The second baseman was hitless in his first 13 at bats to start the season.

“You can’t succeed everyday,” Corbin said. “You just have to keep grinding and going through your process. I never really tweaked my swing or anything. It’s more timing based.”

One inning later, Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic University), who came into the game late for defense, stung an RBI double down the right field line to keep the game alive. Unfortunately for Sal Colangelo’s group, the comeback effort fell short, and the Big Train dropped the nightcap of their doubleheader 7-5.

Although the Big Train’s offense came alive late in the contest, the lineup did not get off to a fast start like it had hours earlier in game one.

“We just went up there to swing,” Colangelo said. “We had no approach. Our timing was off. We were trying to pull off of everything.”

Throughout the night, the Big Train were on the wrong end of some stellar defense by the Thunderbolts. In the bottom of the second, Josh Skowronski (Winthrop University) pummeled a ball in the gap. Sturtevant put on his superman cape and made a full extension diving catch and robbed Skowronski of an extra base hit. The T-bolts centerfielder threw to first to double off Peyton Steele (University of Alabama) for the remarkable double play.

In the very next inning, John Martinez (Florida Atlantic University) got the Big Train on the board after an error by shortstop David Vozzo. Matt Westley (undecided) tried to score from second to make it a two-run mistake by Vozzo, but left fielder Steve Thomas gunned down Westley at the plate to end the inning.

“Hats off to them,” Colangelo said. “They wanted it more.”

The Thunderbolts broke the game open with three runs in both the third and fourth innings. The Thunderbolts displayed a patient approach and drew three walks and two hit by pitches in the second inning alone. The big blow came in the third when Brady Grimes delivered a two-run shot over the left field fence.

James Gladden (University of Maryland) shined in his inning of relief. The righty overpowered the hitters. Gladden faced four batters but one reached on an error. Even with the defensive miscue, Gladden remained poised as he got a weak foulout and a big strikeout to retire the side.

James Gladden by Mark Thalman

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Alex Peltier (East Carolina University) would leave the game, but Colangelo said postgame that he just wanted to get him off his feet. Peltier was the designated hitter for game two after he played centerfield in game one earlier that day.

The Big Train will continue their homestand later today against the Olney Cropdusters at 7 p.m.