March 28, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Facing the 23rd-ranked team in the nation, the La Salle University Baseball team jumped up 1-0 early, but the Charlotte 49ers responded with seven unanswered runs and cruised to an 11-3 Atlantic 10 Conference victory on Friday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field.

As they did in two of the three games down in Richmond, the Explorers put the first run on the board, this time in the third inning. Shane Frangiosa walked to start off the frame, moved to third on an error, and scored on a double-play ball.

Meanwhile, La Salle starter Jamie Cowan used a double play to get out of his early jam in the top of the second, but made one mistake in the fourth - allowing a two-run home run to Rob Lyerly - which gave Charlotte a 2-1 lead.

In the fifth, the Explorers turned another double play to help Cowan end another 49er threat. However, after getting the first out of the sixth with his fifth strike out of the afternoon, Cowan loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batter.

La Salle turned to reliever Christian Schulz, who was able to get out of the trouble by allowing just a sacrifice fly to Lyerly, and the 49ers led 3-1.

Charlotte (19-3, 4-0 A-10) then added four in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Shayne Moody, an RBI single by Brad McElroy, and a two-run home run - his ninth of the season - by Chris Taylor.

The Explorers looked like they were going to respond with a big inning of their own in the bottom of the seventh, after loaded the bases with three straight singles by Mike Dertouzos, Kevin Jones, and Brian Meagher.

However, Charlotte starter Joe Yermal escaped with just one unearned run on a passed ball. He threw eight innings and struck out three, while improving to 5-0 on the season. Cowan (0-5) suffered the loss and going 5.1 with three earned runs and five Ks.

The 49ers tacked on a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth innings, while the Explorers got one in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI grounder by Rick Gehman.

The Explorers had 10 hits in the game - John Rickards had three including a double and was robbed by centerfielder McElroy of another, while Jones and Meagher each had two - but they left eight men on base. Also, Charlotte pitchers allowed just two free passes, while the 49ers drew eight walks and were hit by two pitchers to go with 13 hits.

La Salle (4-20, 0-4 A-10) will continue its series with Charlotte on Saturday with a 1 PM start time, while Sunday's game is now changed to start at 11:30 AM.