Headlines

Starting pitcher John Murphy (Maryland) pitched a solid six innings, giving up no earned runs. However, errors continued to plague Bethesda as they committed three errors in the first five innings leading to Alexandria's first three runs.

"It's simple, little game of baseball kind of things," assistant coach Eric Williams said. "It's just playing the game and not committing so many errors. Errors are whats really killing us the past couple games."

The offense had their opportunities to score early on. Garrett Kueber (Moorpark) managed to make it to third with one out in the first inning but was stranded with two untimely Big Train strkeouts. In the second, two Big Train players reached base with a single and a walk with no outs. Unfortunately, the Aces' pitcher, Billy Leschner, worked his way out of the jam with three straight strikeouts. Bethesda players continued to get on base in the third, loading the bases with nobody out but again could not plate any runs. The Big Train stranded six runners through three innings.

In the sixth inning, Bethesda finally broke through. Kueber scored Justin Morris (Maryland) on a sac fly to deep left to pull within two.

After Alexandria added an insurance run, the Big Train earned their second run of the game in the seventh with a Peyton Sorrels (Maryland) sac fly. 

However the trend of runners being stranded continued for Bethesda throughout the game as they totaled 14 players left on base.

"We need a better approach at the plate," Williams said. "We need to be swinging at better pitches."

The bullpen had another solid outting as Johnny York (St. Mary's) did not allow a baserunner and totaled three strikeouts over two innings. 

"The bullpen has stopped the bleeding on occassion and shut the door on occassion. It's been good," said Williams. "They have come out of there well."

The Big Train have lost four of their last five games, including three at Shirley Povich Field. They will look to get back on track Thursday at 7:30 when they take on the Baltimore Dodgers at Povich.