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                The game began as a pitcher’s duel, with both starting pitchers—Johnny York (St. Mary’s College) for Bethesda and Jacob Erikson (San Diego State University) for DC—sitting the opposing team’s lineup down in order the first time through, and thus each carrying a perfect game through the first three innings.

                “Johnny’s been ‘steady Eddie’,” said manager Sal Colangelo of York’s start. “He throws strikes, he has good command of his off-speed pitches and he gives us an opportunity to win.”

                However, trouble loomed for each starter in the fourth inning as they went through the lineup for the second time. York gave up a base hit to the first batter he faced in the fourth, DC leadoff man Lamar Briggs (Jackson State University), who would advance to third on a Marques Inman (West Virginia University) double and come around to score on a single by Evan Pace (Southeastern Louisiana University). Inman would also score later in the inning, after York’s first walk of the season and a sacrifice fly, leaving the Grays with a two-run lead going into the bottom of the fourth.

                Logan Farrar (Virginia Commonwealth University) was riding a 3-for-22 slump when he stepped into the box in the bottom of the fourth, but didn’t let that faze him as he smacked a double on the first pitch of the inning. The first of three hits for Farrar on Friday, it sparked a rally that would answer the Grays’ runs in the top of the inning.

                “I’ve been struggling,” Farrar said, “but I want to thank my teammates for never giving up on me, the coaches for never giving up on me… It felt good to get back in the swing of things.”

                Clayton Daniel (Jacksonville State University) followed Farrar’s double with a base hit, advancing him to third. Farrar would then score on an Allen Smoot (University of San Francisco) single. Vinny Esposito (Sacramento State) then drove in the tying run on a double to centerfield.

                Big Train would score two more unanswered runs to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth, when Smoot singled home Farrar and Cam Daugherty (Bowling Green State University) for his second and third RBIs of the game.  

                York did not allow a run for the remainder of his outing, pitching a scoreless fifth and sixth to earn the win. Sean Barry (University of San Diego), who had been slated to start the second game of the doubleheader, entered the game in the seventh in relief of York. He pitched three innings of hitless ball, earning the save.  

                “We had great pitching performances, when we needed the big hit with runners in scoring position our approaches were much better, and we played good defense,” Colangelo said. “We got down two, but we battled right back and moved on. It was a good win for us.”

                Big Train plays again on Saturday, at Shirley Povich Field. It’s End Hunger in Montgomery County Day, so be sure to donate food at one of the Giant locations listed below to receive free tickets to the game!

Big Train players and interns will be collecting canned goods from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at:

         -Bethesda Row West Giant- 7142 Arlington Rd., Bethesda

         -Georgetown Giant- 10400 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda

         -Cabin John Giant- 7919 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac