Rob Lyerly scored three runs and drove in three in a 16-14 home loss to Duquesne. |
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Niners Rally Back from Eight-Run Deficit, Lose Late to Duquesne
April 26, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers came all the way back from a 10-2 deficit, but a two-run homer by Aaron Janusey in the top of the ninth put Duquesne up by a run and the Dukes held on to even the series with a 16-14 win Saturday afternoon at Robert and Mariam Hayes stadium. Both games of the series were decided in the winning team's final at-bat and the series-clincher will be Sunday at noon. Duquesne improves to 17-22 and 11-6 in Atlantic 10 play, while Charlotte drops to 31-11, 12-5 in the league.
Duquesne took advantage of a walk, a hit batter and a pair of Niners errors in the first inning, scoring five runs on starter Zach Rosenbaum. After the first run came across on an error, Duquesne designated hitter Mark Tracy hit a two-RBI double off the center field wall to break open the frame. Consecutive groundouts scored the final two runs of the inning.
Charlotte watched Duquesne commit a pair of errors to get the first two baserunners on in the bottom half to score two runs. Designated hitter Chris Taylor bounced a double over the wall to drive in Aaron Bray, who reached on the first error. After a walk to first baseman Rob Lyerly, right fielder Alan Parks drove in Shayne Moody, who also reached on an error, to get the score to 5-2.
Duquesne was able to score again in the second. After Rosenbaum hit the first two batters, first baseman Aaron Janusey doubled to left to drive in one, while a wild pitch scored another run. Back to back RBI singles by Bill Torre and Dante Plassio and another Niners error got home a fifth run to make it 10-2 Duquesne.
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Charlotte was able to score another pair in the bottom half without a hit. After two walks and an error, Moody drove in a run with a fielder's choice and center fielder Brad McElroy brought home the other with a groundout as Charlotte trailed 10-4 after the second inning. The Niners tacked on another run in the third on a fifth Dukes error when O'Brien Taylor drove home Rob Lyerly, who reached on a two-base error to lead off the inning.
The Dukes chased Rosenbaum from the game in the fourth, scoring two more runs on three hits, including an RBI double by Plassio and RBI single by shortstop Andrew Heck. Rosenbaum allowed nine hits, three walks and four hit batters in three innings. Nine of the 12 runs scored on him were earned. He got a no-decision for the late scoring in the game.
Charlotte started another comeback in the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits. Rob Lyerly mashed an RBI double off the right center field fence and second baseman Corey Shaylor brought home two more with a single through the middle. Reserve catcher Mike Perkins sacrificed a run in and Moody brought home the fifth run with two outs on a single to left center to pull the Niners to within two at 12-10.
Both teams were able to score a run in the seventh. Duquesne scored a run on a trio of two-out hits, the RBI coming on a double by Tracy, his third of the game. Charlotte's run was on two hits and a groundout as Aaron Bray brought in O'Brien Taylor, who had doubled to lead off the inning.
Charlotte took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth on two walks and two hits. Rob Lyerly drove in a pair of runs to tie the game at 13 on a single after McElroy led off with a walk, Chris Taylor singled and both advanced on a balk. Alan Parks then drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to put Charlotte up 14-13.
Right fielder Danny Mechling doubled down the left field line to start the ninth, and Charlotte countered by bringing in closer Bryan Hamilton. After a sacrifice bunt, Janusey poked the first pitch he saw from Hamilton over the left field fence to get the Dukes back on top. After a walk and a two base error, Charlotte gave up an unearned run on a fielder's choice by center fielder Eric Morrison.
Duquesne reliever Grant Gillespie was the recipient of the win as he was the pitcher of record when the Dukes retook the lead. He pitched four innings, scattering five hits and three walks, with one strikeout. All four of his runs were earned.
Danny Brown came on in the ninth with a runner at first and one out and got a groundout and a strikeout to get his fifth save of the season. He was the only pitcher in the game (of seven) not to give up at least one run.
Hamilton took the loss (3-2) He was charged with the last two runs, though only one was earned, on a walk and the home run.
Both Taylors, Chris and O'Brien, had three hits for Charlotte. Lyerly drove in three and scored three times. Janusey and Tracy had three RBI each and six Dukes recorded a pair of hits. Janusey and Carroll scored three times in the game.
NOTES: Redshirt freshman Cory Tilton made his pitching debut for the Niners. A two-way player for Charlotte (he has played 32 games in the outfield this season, with 16 starts), he tossed one inning, allowing a hit and a walk. The double by Mechling in the ninth became an earned run against him on the home run allowed by Hamilton. His first inning was scoreless, with a walk and a ground ball that turned into a double play. With two hits, Lyerly extended his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest active streak on Charlotte. He has raised his batting average 83 points during that time and has 17 extra-base hits in that span.
