Things were smooth sailing for the Southern Maryland Senators for half of the game until the seventh inning, when the Bethesda Big Train scored five runs, leading last year’s champions to the 9-2 win in game one. 

To start, pitcher Mark Loubier found himself in trouble after bases were loaded with no outs but quickly got out of that. 

The Senators struck first, as third baseman Mikey Guy hit an RBI double, advancing right fielder Carter Groen home. Then, in the fifth, catcher Nate McHugh hit an RBI single, scoring center fielder Logan Tribble. 

Southern Maryland began to face problems in the sixth. After first baseman Emilio Gonzalez scored, Loubier was pulled for pitcher Davis Rivers. He was able to finish out the inning, but more issues arose in the seventh.

Pitcher Ty Harris subbed in for Rivers and allowed a three-run RBI double from Gonzalez to score center fielder Andrew Williamson, catcher Luke Vaughn, and designated hitter Kenan Bowman. After an error, Gonzalez scored again, making the lead 6-2 for Bethesda. 

From then on, it was all Big Train, as they scored three runs in the eighth, leading them to the 9-2 victory. 

Game two of the three-game series is tonight at 7:00 PM at Shirley Povich Field. If Big Train wins, they will be crowned back-to-back champions, but if the Senators win, the champ will be decided in game three on Friday.