Colangelo Picks Up 500th Win in 12-3 Victory over T-Bolts

Fresh off a victory earlier in the evening in the resumption of a weather-delayed contest, the Big Train rolled to another road win Wednesday night over the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, 12-3. A big ninth-inning offensive outburst sealed the deal for the Big Train and manager Sal Colangelo, who picked up his 500th career summer collegiate victory. 

Big Train pitcher Jake Eddington (Alabama) came out firing in second start of the season. Striking out nine batters – including three consecutive in the fourth – the T-Bolts were able to score just three runs off him over five innings of work. 

The T-Bolts struck first in the bottom of the second on a double from their catcher, Bryce Beamer. But the Big Train was able to collect three outs in the field to prevent further damage, and the next inning, three walks by the T-Bolts pitcher brought in the first run of the game for the Big Train. After three full innings, the ball game was tied at one. 

Big Train finally found their batting groove in the top of the fourth on a solid hit to center field by catcher Grant Knipp (Alabama), followed up by a triple from Brady Gumpf (Notre Dame) to take a 2-1 lead. The Big Train then stalled the T-Bolts once again in the fourth, but the home team their next time up in the fifth, batting in two runs to take a 3-2 lead. 

The top of the sixth saw a single from Darius Foster (San Francisco) bring home Trevor Doyle (Sacramento State) for the only run of the inning and Big Train’s third of the night. 

A pitching substitution in the top of the sixth brought Cooper Rons (UC Santa Barbara) into the game for Bethesda with the bases loaded. Rons struck out two T-Bolts to end the inning and keep the game tied at three. 

In the ninth, an RBI double from Kyle Velazquez (Saint Mary’s CA) broke the tie and put Bethesda up by one. A single to first by Jack Cone (William & Mary) and an error by the T-Bolts catcher brought in Velazquez and Rocco Peppi (Long Beach State). Then, Knipp drove in Cone to bring Big Train’s run total up to seven. Five more Big Train players found their way home to end the half inning and break open the ball game, Bethesda leading 12-3. Jesse Barron (San Francisco) made quick work of the T-Bolts in the bottom half to close out the victory. 

Rons picked up his second win in as many outings for the Big Train. 

Bethesda Big Train will hit the road again on Thursday to face the D.C. Grays at 7 p.m. in a rescheduled matchup from last Friday's rainout. 

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