Written by Mahaley Wise

Sunday afternoon’s game was a rescheduled contest from June 13th that continued where it was promptly left behind. The Big Train started the afternoon down 1-0 to the Senators in the third inning. However, they came back with hard hitting and strong pitching that put them on top and kept the Senators to one run for a 7-1 victory. 

Previously, in the second inning, the Senators scored a single run to put themselves ahead of the scoreless Big Train. Lucas Grantham (Georgia State) advanced to first on a leadoff single. Jax Nichols (Motlow State CC) followed with a walk, moving Grantham to scoring position. A double play moved Grantham to third but put two outs on the board, giving the Big Train the opportunity to squeeze their way out of the inning. However, Logan Tribble (Wofford College) took advantage of the chance to score and hit a single to bring the runner home for a 1-0 lead. 

However, the Big Train were the first one to score in the resumed part of the game. In the third inning, they scored two runs to take the lead. The first three batters walked to load the bases. Alex Peltier (East Carolina) threaded the ball through the left field gap to bring home Parker Corbin (Maryland) and Josh Skowronski (Winthrop). Peyton Steele hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Peltier and advance the Big Train’s lead to 3-1. 

Bethesda struck again in the fourth inning, earning two more runs. Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic) hit a hard ball to the first baseman, who was unable to come up with it, allowing Gonzelez to reach. Josh Skowronski (Winthrop) came to bat with a focused look in his eye, trying to get the job done as the designated hitter. He did just that as he drove the ball over the right field wall and out of the park. He ran around the bases like a man who has done this 1,000 times, raising his arm and pointing to where the ball landed, keeping that same calm face. 

In the fifth inning, the Big Train continued their streak of scoring runs. Peltier started with a single, moving to scoring position on a stolen base, then to third on an errant throw by the Senators catcher. John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) followed with another single to score Peltier, putting Big Train far ahead of the quiet Senators, 6-1. 

Bethesda failed to tack on any more runs in the sixth inning, opening the door for the Senators to bring runners home. But Big Train pitcher Russell Petersen (Whitman College) put up a hard battle, going seven innings deep in relief to guarantee his team the win. The Senators struggled to find contact with the ball against his pitches and remained scoreless for the rest of the game after their single run in the second inning. 

The Big Train got their last run in the eighth inning. Peyton Steele (Alabama) hopped a single over the shortstop to get into center field and advanced to first. Steele stole second base to get a runner in scoring position, staying aggressive on base. JJ Hand (Old Dominion) followed with a single that would bring Steele home and create the winning score for Big Train 7-1.