Niners Clinch A-10 Tournament Spot with Doubleheader Sweep of La Salle
April 26, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Behind a one-hit shutout by freshman pitcher Katy Hackett to take game one 3-0 and the game-winning RBI from sophomore Keri Palma to take the second contest 5-4, the Charlotte 49ers (30-25; A-10: 11-5) swept conference foe La Salle (18-24; A-10: 6-12) Saturday afternoon at the D.L. Phillips Complex. Hackett tallied 11 strikeouts on the day, moving her season total to 152, pushing her into second place all-time in the single season record books, while the 49ers clinched a berth into the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament with the pair of wins. Charlotte will host the A-10 Tournament, May 7-10.
In the first game, Hackett allowed only four Explorer baserunners (one hit, one walk and a pair of errors), to improve her season record to 13-13. Freshman outfielder Whitney Williams, who led the team with four hits, and junior third baseman Jenny Rumbles each collected an RBI, while junior second baseman Sarah Malene crossed the plate for the game-winning run on a wild pitch.
Lead-off batter Malene got the 49ers on the board early in the bottom of the first, reaching on an infield error, advancing on a Williams single and groundout by sophomore outfielder Serena Smith before coming home on a wild pitch. La Salle attempted to answer in the top of the fourth, leaving two on base on a single and fielder's choice, but failed to score when Malene got the third out unassisted. Charlotte added two additional runs in the bottom of the inning when Rumbles singled to center field, sending Palma to third before she came home on the throw, and Williams singled to shortstop to score freshman Kendra McCall.
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Sophomore pitcher Emily Jeffery (16-10) held the Explorers to four runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking one. Charlotte had six hits, with Williams once again leading the team with two.
Malene opened scoring once again in the top of the first, coming home on a passed ball after reaching on a walk and advancing with a stolen base and Williams single to right center. Williams stole second during Smith's at-bat before Smith doubled to center field and advanced to third on an outfield throwing error. Clean-up Jaime West followed up with a two-run homer to left field to cap off the four-run first inning. Charlotte held onto the advantage through the top of the fourth, when La Salle fired back with four runs on three hits, including a two-run homer to center field.
The 49ers came close to re-taking the lead in the fifth when Williams doubled to center field, advancing to third on the throw, but a Smith strikeout and West fly wrapped up the inning. Charlotte had better luck in the sixth, though, when junior shortstop Cee Brooks doubled to left center. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Emily Forbes and was brought home by an RBI double to left center from Palma to take the win.
With her one stolen base on the day, Malene has collected 26 extra bags on the season, moving her into third place all-time in the single season record books.
Charlotte returns to action Tuesday with a doubleheader at Elon.
