April 9, 2008
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GREENVILLE, S.C. -- O'Brien Taylor went 2-for-5 with a home run and drove in four runs to lead 26th-ranked Charlotte to a 16-6 win over Furman in baseball action Wednesday evening at Furman Stadium.
Taylor's three-run blast to left field highlighted a seven-run eighth inning that blew the game open for Charlotte (26-5), which completed the two-game season sweep of Furman (17-13).
Charlotte brought out the heavy lumber after falling behind 6-0 in the second inning, pounding Furman's bullpen for 15 of its 16 hits. The Paladins used nine pitchers in the contest.
Joining Taylor with hot bats were Aaron Bray, who went 3-for-6, and Rob Lyerly, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI while also scoring three runs. Brad McElroy, Chris Taylor, and Corey Shaylor also collected two hits each for the 49ers.
Furman banged out 10 hits but only managed four base knocks over the final seven innings. The Paladins were paced at the plate by Ryan Lee's 2-for-4, 3 RBI performance that also included a two-run home run.
B.J. Hagen (2-1) earned the win in relief after working three scoreless innings and allowing only three hits.
Will Feemster (0-2) took the loss for Furman, also in relief. He gave up two runs on three hits over 1 1/3 innings.
Lee's second home run in two days, a two-run shot to left field, staked Furman to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Joey Rodgers' two-run single and Lee's second hit of the game, an RBI single to right field off 49ers starter Andrew Smith, stretched Furman's advantage to 6-0 in the second inning.
Charlotte's bats came to life in the third against J.P. Goldsberry, who came on for Paladin starter Mason Smith. Goldsberry recorded only one out and yielded five runs on three hits and a walk while uncorking two wild pitches. McElroy's bases loaded, two-run double to left field proved to be inning's big blow and helped Charlotte narrow Furman's lead to 6-5.
McElroy's fifth inning solo home run to center field tied the game, and the 49ers took the lead for good later in the inning when Lyerly scored on Shaylor's sacrifice fly.
Charlotte made it 9-6 with a two-run seventh on a pair of RBI grounders by Alan Parks and O'Brien Taylor.
The 49ers blew the game open in the eighth, using a pair of Furman errors and five hits to plate seven runs, six of which were unearned.
The Paladins open a three-game Southern Conference series this Friday when they entertain the College of Charleston at Furman Stadium in a 7:00 p.m. game.
