Rob Lyerly's seventh home run of the season tied the game in the 8th. |
|
|
Charlotte Comeback Bid Falls Short in 5-4 Home Loss to Xavier
April 11, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers ran out of magic, leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to drop a 5-4 decision at the hands of Xavier to start an Atlantic 10 weekend baseball series at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium Friday night. The loss was only the second at home for Charlotte in 19 contests, which drops to 26-6 on the season, 8-2 in league play. The Musketeers improve to 13-16 on the season, 7-3 in conference play.
Charlotte's Brad McElroy extended his career-long hit streak to 24 games, the third-longest run in team history.
The Niners got on the board in the first on a walk and a pair of hits, the last by McElroy, who drove in Aaron Bray from third.
The game remained scoreless Xavier scored three in the top of the sixth on two hits, three walks and a hit batter. Designated hitter drove in two runs with a double to left center and catcher Billy O'Conner drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the scoring and give the Musketeers a 3-1 lead.
The Niners got a run back in a heated sixth. McElroy reached on an error with one out. After a strikeout, Leesman walked a pair to load the bases and relief pitcher Mike Creevy balked a run home. That got under the skin of Xavier coach Scott Googins, who was later ejected in a heated discussion with the umpiring crew. His team responded, getting out of the inning with no further damage.
The Musketeers turned that fire into another run in the top of the seventh, on two hits. Third baseman Phil Bauer singled through the left side to start the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Adam Pasano. Second baseman Drew Schmidt hit a fly ball to right deep enough to advance Bauer to third, and left fielder Steve Brown drove him in with a single through the right side for a 4-2 Xavier lead.
|
|
 |
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Shayne Moody tripled and Lyerly blasted a 1-0 pitch into the trees beyond the right field fence for his seventh of the season to tie the game at four runs each.
Xavier scored the go-ahead run in the ninth with two outs. Pasano tripled to left center, missing a home run by two feet against the fence. He scored on Brown's second RBI of the day, a bat-shattering single through the right side off of Sam Pierce.
Charlotte started the ninth with a single by pinch hitter Mike Perkins and a double to right center by Aaron Bray, but Charlotte could not get a run home in three chances for their fourth win in the final at-bat.
Charlotte starting pitcher Joe Yermal took a one-hitter into the sixth before allowing the three runs. He struck out four and allowed three hits and a pair of walks in 5.1 innings pitched. He got a no-decision, ending his streak of five straight wins.
Xavier starter Charlie Leesman confounded Charlotte hitters for five innings and ran into trouble in that sixth. He gave up five hits and four walks, striking out five for his no-decision.
Xavier reliever Mike Creevy earned the win in relief. He gave up the homer in the eighth and allowed two other hits and one walk, striking out a pair to move to 5-1. Shortstop Jordan Conley finished 0-3 at the plate, but moved over to pitch the ninth, earning his fifth save of the season.
Charlotte reliever Justin Duncan took the first loss for his first career decision (0-1). He gave up three hits and a walk, striking out one hitter in 2.2 innings.
The two teams will play game two on Saturday at 2 p.m.
NOTES: After starting 0-9 this season, sophomore Mike Perkins has hits in his last two appearances. Lyerly's homer was the 25th hit at home for Charlotte out of 32 so far this season. Charlotte is now 30-5 at home since the opening of the new stadium, on March 30, 2007.
