Written by Mahaley Wise | Photo by Maya Brichacek

The first game of Sunday’s doubleheader between Big Train and the Grays was a high energy showdown, with both teams showcasing explosive hitting and electric baserunning to rack up big runs. A late inning surge boosted Big Train to an 8-5 win over the Grays. 

The Grays started the scoring in the second inning. Tanner Wolpert (UNC) began with a leadoff double to put a runner in scoring position. Marc Quarrie (Wofford) hit another double to switch places with Wolpert and send him home. The Grays now led Big Train by one run, the only run of the game thus far.

But the Big Train didn’t let the Grays hold onto their lead for long. In their own half of the second inning they scored two runs. Alex Peltier (East Carolina) drove in the first run and tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing Parker Corbin (Maryland) home. A hard-hit double by Brennon Wright (South Alabama) scored Jacob Hauk (Maryland) as Big Train took the lead.

The fourth inning put the Grays back on top with clutch hits and sharp base running. Andy Riveria (Holy Family) had a lead off single to get the momentum for his team started. Tyler Wiltsey (Rutgers) took a big swing at the plate, sending the ball over the left field wall for his first home run of the summer. 

His teammates and coaches erupted in cheers and laughter. The third base coach gave him a big smile and a screaming “let’s go!” to send him around the bases. A pool of players was waiting for him at home plate as he rounded third greeting him with a wall of helmets and high fives. 

The Grays had taken the lead back from Big Train but they weren’t done scoring yet. They loaded the bases in the same inning putting pressure on Big Train’s defense. An error by the second baseman allowed two more runs to score, giving the Grays a 5-2 lead. 

In the fifth inning the Big Train began to chip away at the Grays lead. A single by Logan Ponett (UNC) scored a run and started to build the Big Train’s energy, now trailing by just two. 

The Big Train scored five in the sixth inning to take a three-run lead and squeeze the Grays into their last opportunity.  Sharp base running by John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) took advantage of an error by the pitcher to score the first run of the inning. A single by Peltier brought in the second run of the inning to tie the game. Wright followed with another single to score the third run of the inning. A wild pitch by Grays pitcher gave Peltier an opportunity to score, and Wright came in on a fielder’s choice to advance the Big Train lead, 8-5.