Big Train Outlasted by Senators, Falls 4-3

Big Train by Matthew Lewyn

BETHESDA, Md. -- The Big Train (1-3) returned to action at Shirley Povich Field on Friday night to face off against the Southern Maryland Senators (3-1), falling 4-3 in a game defined by efficient pitching and defense.

“We’re in this situation every year, once we can get everyone together for more than just a game,” Head Coach Sal Colangelo said. “Once we do that, we’ll be fine.”

Both sides faced off earlier this season in an exhibition game at Shirley Povich Field. Bethesda flew out of the gate, scoring four runs in the first inning, a lead they would not relinquish as they held on for a 9-4 win. 

Starting pitcher, the leftie Charlie Hoagland (East Carolina), came out of the gates hot in the top of the first inning, forcing a groundout and striking out two Senators to put the Big Train on offense without much trouble. 

The batters matched Hoagland’s energy early on, as shortstop Daniel Machado (Florida Atlantic University) and third baseman Logan Ponnett (Gaston College) singled, putting runners on first and second base. Up next for the Big Train came first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University).

Charlie Hoagland by Matthew Lewyn

The 2025 First Team All-Ripken-Senior-League batter did what he does best and fired a ball past the third baseman, singling and bringing Machado home for an early 1-0 Big Train lead.

Hoagland gave up his first hit of the game in the top of the second inning with a single to center field and walked another to have two runners on base. The Dayton, Ohio native recovered quickly and forced back-to-back groundouts to mark the first Big Train game of the season to shutout their opponents through the first two innings.

Catcher Parker Corbin (University of Maryland) stepped up in the bottom of the second with one out and crushed a ball deep to left field off the scoreboard for a double. Right fielder Will Haacke (James Madison University) followed it up with a well-earned walk, but Bethesda was not able to bring them in, holding the 1-0 lead. 

The Southern Maryland bats started to heat up in the top of the third, as the Senators smashed a ball deep into left field for a two-run homer with no outs, giving Southern Maryland a 2-1 lead. They extended the lead to 3-1 after a single to right field, but Hoagland fought back and forced back-to-back outs to close out the inning. 

Ponnett toughed out a hit-by-pitch at the bottom of the third inning to get on base. Left fielder Ryan Foscolo (University of Kentucky) stepped up with two outs to try and bring him home, and powered a ball into left field, finding himself in a rundown between first and second base, which allowed Ponnett to score to close the Senator lead to 3-2.

Hoagland exited the game at the top of the fourth inning, being relieved by the right-hander Nathan Wines (East Carolina University). Hoagland ended Friday night with 61 pitches for 41 strikes and five strikeouts, giving up only three total runs through his three innings pitched. 

“Charlie [Hoagland] was great, and he comes from a great institution [East Carolina], some of the best coaches in the country,” Colangelo said. “We’ll build him up as we go, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

Wines made quick work of the fourth inning, forcing back-to-back groundouts to start the inning and ending the inning with a fly out to left field. The hitting quieted down as the pitching heated up for both sides, as neither team managed a hit through the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Julius Bagnerise by Matthew Lewyn

The next hit for either team came during the eighth inning, when Ponnett stepped up to bat with one out. The Wilmington, N.C. native saw the first pitch fly past for a strike, but took the second pitch over the head of the third baseman to the wall for a double. Bethesda were not able to bring him in, keeping the score 3-2 in favor of the Senators. 

The Senators scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning to make the score 4-2 ahead of the last three Big Train outs. Third baseman Casey Carpenter (UNC Wilmington) led off the bottom of the ninth with a six-pitch walk, and Corbin followed him with another walk, putting the winning run at the plate with two outs. 

Shortstop Julius Bagnerise (George Mason University) brought Carpenter home on a sac fly to close the lead to 4-3, but Bethesda could not bring Corbin home, stranding him on third base and ending the game.

“I just want to work out the fine details that we need to do as coaches, as players, we’ll be just fine,” Colangelo said.

The Big Train stays at home for a matchup against the Olney Cropdusters Saturday night for Super Women Night. The Cropdusters lead the head-to-head this season so far, as they won the first matchup of the season 13-7 in Olney.

Community Bridges will perform pregame at 6:20 p.m. and Shannon Babe-Thomas of Community Bridges will be honored as a Community Hero for her work with empowering girls.

Ultramarathoner Betty Holston Smith and members of the Academy of Holy Cross women’s basketball team that won 115 consecutive games between 1977-82 will also be in attendance as Bethesda celebrates impactful women in the community.

Tickets for the game can be purchased on the Big Train website.