Headlines
Big Train Blank Braves, 16-0, for First Shutout of SeasonAfter a 15-3 victory Monday night, the Big Train took down the Braves for the second time in as many games on Tuesday, this time shutting them out 16–0 in seven innings.
Similar to the previous two games, the Big Train kicked off the scoring in the first inning, as Kemp Alderman (Ole Miss) continued his scorching hot start to the summer season with a two RBI single, scoring Darius Foster (San Francisco) and Rocco Peppi (Long Beach State). Later in the inning, Alderman scored on a passed ball to make it 3–0 Big Train. The next inning, Foster scored from third on a throwing error to make it 4–0 Big Train. In the top of the third, with the bases loaded and only one out, Matt Bedford (Notre Dame) struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam and keep the Braves scoreless. He finished the night with four shutout frames and five strikeouts in his first regular season start of the summer. In the bottom of the fourth, after getting on first via a single, Foster scored all the way from first on an RBI double by Matt Thomas (William & Mary) to make it 5–0 Big Train. Thomas would then score on an infield single by Alderman.
In the bottom of the fifth, after walking and advancing to third on a double by Trevor Doyle (Sacramento State), Keith Torres (Sacramento State) scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Gauthier (Maryland). A few moments later, Doyle came across on a South County throwing error , making it 8–0 Big Train.
In the bottom of the sixth, Peppi and Nolan Schanuel (Florida Atlantic) each scored on fielding errors by the Braves. After a couple of walks scored two runs, Peppi ripped a base clearing double to balloon the advantage to 15-0. Alderman drove him home on a single, making it 16–0. In the top of the seventh, the Braves failed to score enough runs to keep the game going. For the second consecutive game, the Big Train ended the game by the Cal Ripken League mercy rule before the ninth inning. In his second start of the season, Alderman continued his hot hitting, going 3-5 with four RBIs. It was a stellar follow-up to his fantastic performance against the Braves on Monday that included an absolute moonshot in the 15–3 blowout. “I knew it was gone,” Alderman said of his Monday homer. “The two pitches he threw me prior were curveballs out of the zone, and I just took a two strike approach and just saw it up and hit it.” As for Tuesday's performance, Alderman mentioned a few things he’s trying to work on this summer that aided his solid hitting outing against the Braves. “I was just trying to stay short on the ball and stick to my approach,” Alderman said. “I’m adding a little hitch in my swing, and I’m just trying to slow it down, recognize pitches and lay off the curveballs in the dirt.”
As for the rest of the lineup, Foster went 3-for-4 with three runs and Peppi went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and three runs. It was yet another dominant offensive performance by the Big Train, as all nine starters reached base at least once. In the past 14 innings, the Big Train outscored the Braves 31–3 in what was a one-sided home-and-home series. Following up Bedford's stellar performance, relievers Matt Howat (William & Mary) and Jack Cone (William & Mary) allowed a combined two hits and zero earned runs in three innings of relief. The Big Train are back in action on the road Wednesday against the T-Bolts at 6 p.m., where they will first conclude their contest from last Tuesday that was suspended due to rain; the game will resume in the top of the tenth with the Big Train batting since they were the road team last Tuesday. Their regularly scheduled game is set to begin at 7 p.m. |
![]()
Browse by Month »
March 2023 February 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 November 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 November 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 |