Big Train Bats Come Alive,
Pummel Riverdogs in Eleven | ||
The Big Train traveled to Vienna last night with revenge on their minds after losing to the River Dogs 9-4 on June 9th. That loss was avenged as some outstanding performances led to an incredible 16-11 win in extra innings. The Big Train started off with a one-run lead after a walk and three hit batsmen brought a run across the plate in the first inning. However, the Big Train would give up five in the bottom of the inning and trail 5-1. In the third inning, the Big Train looked destined for a quiet inning untilColin Kish (Florida Southern) singled and Cole Norton (St. Mary's (CA)) drove a ball over the left-center field fence. But the Riverdogs scored two of their own in the third to make the score 7-3. Norton would strike again in the fifth inning. After a Tucker Tobin(George Mason) walk and another Kish single, Norton tripled to deep center to score both his teammates and eventually crossed the plate himself on a Brennan Middleton (Tulane) RBI groundout. But once again, the Riverdogs would match the Big Train and score three as well in the bottom of the inning. In the sixth, a two-out Hunter Renfroe (Mississippi State) single kept a rally alive and brought Tobin to the plate where his three-run homer closed the gap to 10-9. The team was able to tie the game in the seventh as a Mitch Morales(Florida Atlantic) double scored Norton who had led off the inning with a single.  Cameron Cuneo (UC Santa Barbara) pitched the last five of the regulation nine innings for the Big Train and gave up just one run in his first Big Train appearance. Cuneo's left-handed sidearm delivery baffled hitters all night. His slider was particularly effective and few balls even left the infield. Cuneo commented on that pitch, as well as his fastball, after the game. "It's been my go to for a while," Cuneo said. "I really got a feel for that fastball inside. I got more behind it than I usually do." The Big Train would essentially finish the game in the 11th inning as they were able to put six runs up on the scoreboard. Kish doubled to lead off the inning and was followed by a Norton walk and Middletonsingle to load the bases. Morales stepped up to the plate and drilled a two-RBI single to put the Big Train ahead for good. Michael Bass (UNC-Wilmington) then drew his third walk of the night to reload the bases and Brendan Hendriks (San Francisco) hit a sacrifice fly to score another run. A couple of miscues by the Riverdogs and a double byTobin left the score at 16-10. The bottom of the eleventh brought one run in for the Riverdogs butHugh Adams (Florida Atlantic) was able to shut the door and pick up the win. Big Train Manager Sal Colangelo was happy with the effort of his players after the game and singled out a player who he thinks will have an impact on the team's results. "Our guys didn't quit. They continued to fight and try to get better and get after it," Colangelo said. "There's one guy who is going to be the 'X factor' on this team and that's Cole. If he can get it rolling, we're going to go." Look for the Big Train to carry that momentum back home to Povich Field tonight, as they will open a four-game home stand against the DC Grays at 7:30 PM. The box score for last's night's game can be viewed here and for tickets to tonight's game, click here Watch Tonight's game live 7:30pm EST on US Sports Network .  |
| WINSTON-SALEM STATE EDGES BOWIE STATE LADY BULLDOGS 59-52 |
  WINSTON-SALEM STATE EDGES BOWIE STATE LADY BULLDOGS 59-52 (WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – January 9, 2012) Junior Cortney Baynard and sophomore Brooke Miles scored 10 points each and senior Kimberly Jones recorded eight points and a game-high eight rebounds, but Winston-Salem State edges Bowie State 59-52. Both teams started the game very slow, as neither team reached double-digits until Winston-Salem held a 10-8 advantage with 13:57 left in the first half. The Lady Rams maintained a lead most of the first half, but Bowie State went into the locker room with a slim 22-21 lead at the break. Bowie State (1-9 / 1-2 CIAA) hit just 7-of 29 (24 percent) from the field in the first 20 minutes. Winston-Salem State was just as cold, making only 7-of-25 (28 percent) from the field. The Lady Bulldogs’ largest lead of the night (48-39) came at the six minute mark of the second half. Winston-Salem State erased that deficit on a 14-2, capped off by a 3-pointer by WSSU’s Taneisha White that gave the Lady Rams the lead for good. To make matters worse for Bowie State, a Miles layup with one minute left to play was the only Lady Bulldogs field goal over the final six minutes. Courtney Medley led the Lady Rams with 15 points (six rebounds) and Jovanah Graham chipped in 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Bowie State senior Juliette Turner contributed nine points and five rebounds before fouling out late in the game. In terms of team stats, Winston-Salem State (8-5 / 3-0 CIAA) wrapped up the game shooting 35 percent from the floor (19-of-55) and 61 percent from the charity stripe (17-of-28). In comparison, Bowie State ended the contest with a shooting percentage of 32 percent (17-of-53) and made 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the free throw line. Turnovers were plentiful for both squads as BSU committed 27 and WSSU 22. The Lady Bulldogs return to action – Thursday (January 12) facing the defending CIAA Champions of Shaw University in the Lady Bears’ C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium. |
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