Junior second baseman Sarah Malene |
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Charlotte Falls to No. 20 Massachusetts in Ten Innings
May 9, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Despite a trading two runs in the eighth inning, the third-seeded Charlotte 49ers (34-30) fell to top seed No. 20 Massachusetts (38-11) 5-4 in nine innings Friday afternoon in day three of Atlantic 10 Tournament action at the D.L. Phillips Softball Complex. Charlotte stayed in the running with the Minutewomen through the bottom of the ninth when Massachusetts scored on an RBI single to centerfield.
Junior shortstop Cee Brooks anchored the 49ers offense with one RBI on three hits, while leadoff batter junior second baseman Sarah Malene chipped in two runs and one RBI on two hits. Sophomore outfielder Serena Smith, junior catcher Jaime West and sophomore first baseman Keri Palma each contributed one hit apiece.
Freshman starter Katy Hackett held the Minutewomen to four runs on nine hits through seven innings before sophomore Emily Jeffery entered the circle in relief in the eighth after a Massachusetts two-run homer. While she only gave up one hit and struck out three batters, Jeffery took the loss to move her season record to 18-12. Massachusetts ace Brandice Balschmiter moved to 27-6.
Malene, who reached on a triple to right center, crossed the plate for a record-setting 44th time this season in the top of the first to open scoring for Charlotte, driven in when Williams reached first on an infield throwing error. After six 49ers reached the plate, Massachusetts evened the score when its leadoff batter homered the left field.
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Charlotte pushed back ahead, though, in the top of the second when Palma single up the middle, advancing to second on an infield error and reaching third on a strikeout by freshman designated Kendra McCall before an RBI single to third base from Malene would bring her home. Charlotte held on to the 2-0 advantage through the bottom of the seventh when the Minutewomen pushed in a runner from second base off an RBI single up the middle to push the game into extra innings.
Charlotte attached immediately in the eighth, when Malene, who reached on an error by the Massachusetts second baseman, was pushed home by a Williams sacrifice bunt, a Smith single through the right side and a Brooks RBI single through the left side. Smith crossed the plate for the second run of the inning, stealing second and advancing to third on Brooks' single before coming home on an outfield throwing error.
Massachusetts answered when its walked lead-off batter of the inning was sent home by a Reeves bomb over the center field fence. Charlotte attempted to put the Minutewomen away for good in the ninth but three consecutive outs and a Massachusetts RBI single ended the game.
Charlotte will continue tournament play this evening with the third game of the day.
