Big Train Pitchers Strike Out 19 in 4-2 Win Over Thunderbolts

Coming off a tough loss Friday night, the Big Train showed off their stellar pitching depth against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts in a 4-2 win Saturday at Povich Field. Working around a mid-game rain delay, seven Big Train pitchers combined to strike out 19 batters.

The Thunderbolts started off the game in swinging fashion. Two batters into the game, T-Bolt shortstop Dillion Oxyer smashed a two-run home run. However, Big Train starter Grayson Hitt (Alabama) didn’t let them run up the score. He struck out the next three batters he faced to end the inning, and went on to throw two more scoreless frames, whiffing seven batters in total. 

In turn in the bottom of the frame, Big Train hit three singles to load the bases. The T-Bolts turned a double play, but were unable to keep Austin Gauthier (Maryland) from reaching home as the Big Train cut the score to 2-1 heading into the second inning.

After Hitt's three strong frames, a pitching substitution by the Big Train in the top of the fourth put Kyle Robinson (Texas Tech) on the mound. He struck out the side and stalled the T-Bolts through another inning. 

After a rain delay paused play for nearly an hour, Danny Checkosky (Christopher Newport) entered for Robinson in the top of the fifth. He faced five batters, striking out three. The Big Train came back to the plate but did not score and after five full innings, the score remained 2-1. 

In Big Train’s fourth pitching substitution of the game, Ryan Lynch (Notre Dame) took his spot on the mound. Facing four batters and striking out three of them, Lynch tallied Big Train’s 18th out of the game, 16 of them being strikeouts. 

The bottom of the sixth saw Matt Thomas (William & Mary) cross on a Kemp Alderman (Ole Miss) double to tie the game. Peppi scored Big Train’s third run of the game on a passed ball by the catcher. A Trevor Doyle (Sacramento State) single brought Alderman home for a 4-2 ballgame to end the sixth. 

The 4-2 score remained through a scoreless seventh inning by Cooper Rons (UC Santa Barbara) eighth from Matt Bedford (Notre Dame). With one out in the eighth and a runner on second, Doyle caught a ball in right field, after which he launched a missile to third for out number three to end the half inning. 

Jack Cone (William & Mary) took over on the mound for the top of the ninth and recorded three quick outs, including two strikeouts, to end the ballgame.

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