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The Big Train pushed across six runs in the third inning. Austin Hale (Stetson) was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. Logan Farrar (VCU) roped a single to right field and Clayton Daniel (Jacksonville St.) reached on an incredible bunt back to the Express pitcher. The bases were loaded for RBI leader Allen Smoot (San Francisco) and he delivered. Smoot hit a grounder to the second baseman and was just barely out at first. Nonetheless, Smoot drove in the run and gave the Big Train a 1-0 lead.

Michael Emodi (Creighton) continued the successful inning for Bethesda. He hit a soft liner to left to score Farrar and Daniel. After advancing to third on a fielder’s choice, Emodi came home on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4-0.

Justin Morris (Maryland) worked a walk and Vinny Esposito (Sac St.) roped a single to center to give the Big Train two more base runners in the inning. Cam Daughtery (Bowling Green) drove Morris home with a bloop to right. Esposito came around on a misplayed ball capping off a six run inning.

“We got back to basics with runners in scoring position and did not try to do too much,” manager Sal Colangelo said on the third inning. “We just didn’t leave any guys out there like we did last night.”

Daughtery would produce an effect out in the fifth. He grounded out but brought Smoot home.

With the game well in hand in the eighth inning, Esposito blasted a solo shot over the left field fence, his team leading fourth homerun of the season. He was not done there. The left fielder capped off a 3-3 day with an RBI sinlge to center in the final inning. Bethesda led 9-2.

“I was seeing the ball really well today,” Esposito said of his night at the plate. “On the homerun, he gave me a pitch up high in the zone and I put a good swing on it.”

All nine players in the Big Train lineup reached safely at least once throughout the night, showing the depth of this potent lineup.

“There’s someone every night that steps up and makes a couple plays,” Colangelo said. “I have confidence in the guys that are on the bench.”

The Express would get a couple back but not enough to catch the red-hot Bethesda offense.

Murphy was phenomenal as he earned his second victory of the season. He pitched five innings, giving up four hits, allowing two runs and striking out two.

Matt Marsili (JMU) also pitched lights out, earning a save in four innings of work, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out six.

The Big Train return to Shirley Povich Field tomorrow night to take on the Baltimore Dodgers.