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Big Train Avenge Opening Night Loss in Walk-off Victory Over Redbirds

06/14/2013 9:34 PM

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Ryne Willard hit a 3 run HR in the bottom of the fourth.

The Big Train hosted the Baltimore Redbirds on Friday night, as they looked to avenge a 2-0 loss from Opening Night last Thursday.

The Big Train found themselves trailing early, as the Redbirds scored runs in the third in fourth innings to make the score 2-0. However, Bethesda responded in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game and then claiming a lead of their own thanks to three runs.

After Tucker Tobin (George Mason) scored on a ground ball by Mike Miedzianowski (High Point), Ryne Willard (Tallahassee CC) hit his first home run of the season, driving in Josh Spano (High Point) and making the score 3-2 in favor of the Big Train.

Following a scoreless fifth inning by Justin Hepner (San Diego State), the Big Train would add two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. After the Big Train worked the bases loaded, Tyler France (San Diego State) would come up with a big two-out single to score David Del Grande (Sacramento State) and Kyle Wernicki (Virginia Tech) and make the score 5-2.

However, the Redbirds rallied in the top of the seventh, pushing across four runs to take a 6-5 lead.

But the Big Train kept their composure, and with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Kevin Tatum (Cornell) drew a walk on four straight pitches to plate Logan Farrar (Virginia Commonwealth) to tie the game at six.

Neither team would score runs in the eighth or ninth innings, meaning the game would have to be decided in extras.

Excellent pitching by Bubba Derby (San Diego State) in the final two regulation innings played a large role in getting the Big Train into extra innings, as he gave up no hits. The story would be the same in the tenth, giving the Big Train offense a chance to win by scoring a single run in the bottom half of the inning.

Wernicki would be the first base runner for the Big Train in the tenth, reaching on a one-out single. Wernicki would then move into scoring position on a ground ball by Johnny Cole (Coastal Carolina), and after a two-out walk by Farrar, Spano would have a chance to play hero with runners on first and second and two down.

Spano came up big for the Big Train, driving in the game-winning run on a single to give Bethesda the 7-6 victory. The win improves the Big Train’s winning streak to four consecutive games, they sit atop of the league in first place.

The Big Train will look to stretch their winning streak to five straight as they face the Presstman Cardinals in Hanover, Maryland Saturday at 7:00 PM. The Big Train then return home on Sunday to kick off a five-game homestand against the FCA Herndon Braves at 7:30 PM. Sunday is also Nationals Night, meaning Screech and the Racing Presidents from the Washington Nationals will be at the park for a special Big Train race! Tickets to the game can be purchased here or at the gate!