Charlotte Falls in Heartbreakers in Final Games of 49er Invitational
March 9, 2008
Charlotte, N .C. - Despite a three-RBI performance from junior shortstop Cee Brooks in the first game and a seventh-inning single from freshman outfielder Whitney Williams to send game two into extra time, the Charlotte 49ers dropped the final two games of the 49er Invitational to Miami (Ohio) 6-5 and North Florida 4-3 Sunday afternoon at the D.L. Phillips Softball Complex. With the losses, the 49ers fall to 10-13 on the season.
Miami snuck by in the first game, scoring on Robinson sacrifice fly to centerfield with bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to take the game. Sophomore pitcher Emily Jeffery gave up six hits in the contest and struck out three while walking five.
The 49ers got on the board early, scoring in the top of the first when junior second baseman Sarah Malene came home on a wild pitch. Miami answered, though, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield later in the inning. After a scoreless second, Charlotte brought in three runs in the third, the first off a left-field single by sophomore outfielder Serena Smith, followed by a two-run single from Brooks. The RedHawks countered with two-run fourth and sixth innings, bringing the score to 5-4. The 49ers retaliated with a Brooks drive to center field to even the slate in the seventh, but a late run in the bottom of the inning would seal the victory for Miami (5-9).
In the second game, Charlotte rallied with a two-run seventh to push the contest into nine innings, but freshman pitcher Katy Hackett was unable to seal the win. She struck out 11 batters in just over eight innings pitched.
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North Florida opened scoring, driving in one run apiece in the first and fourth innings, before the 49ers got on the board in the fifth with an RBI single to left field from junior catcher Jaime West, which was immediately answered with another Osprey run. Charlotte evened the score in the seventh off another West single and a Williams infield drive but were denied the win in the bottom of the ninth when North Florida singled to third with bases loaded.
The 49ers return to action with a doubleheader at Furman Wednesday.
