Chris Taylor continued his hot hitting with three more RBI through six innings Saturday. |
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Niners Finish Off Canisius, 18-5, in Conclusion of Suspended Game
Feb. 18-19, 2006
Charlotte, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers batted around to explode for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and led 15-5 over Canisius through six innings. The game, played in a steady rain, was suspended and the teams resumed play at noon on Sunday, with the 49ers tacking on three more runs to finish the contest 18-5.
The game was a see-saw battle through the first nine turns at bat. Charlotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Cory Lane singled, John Stallings walked and they both scored on a double by Chris Taylor.
Canisius would pull ahead 4-2 in the top of the third. After a hit by pitch, a single and a bunt single, Mark Tupek walked to force in the Golden Griffins' first run. A single by Matt Mazurek would plate a second run, before Branson Joseph's bases-loaded walk made it a 3-2 Canisius lead. Kevin Mahoney's sac fly to left would score the inning's final run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Charlotte regained the lead with three runs. Chris Lane led off the inning with a triple into right center, and ironically would score when the next batter, freshman Aaron Bray, tripled down the left field line.
Adam Floyd then struck out, but reached first after the catcher made a bad throw. Cory Lane's sacrifice fly would tie the game at 4-4, and after a pair of walks Floyd would be forced in when Chris Taylor's bases loaded walk gave the Niners a 5-4 advantage.
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Canisius came right back to tie the contest at 5 apiece when Mazurek was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Mahoney.
The Niners, though, appeared to put the game out of reach by scoring nine runs in the bottom half of the inning. All nine Charlotte batters reached base and scored in the outburst.
Freshman reliever Dan Clifford started the inning on the mound, the third Griffs pitcher of the day, and hit Chris Lane. Bray then walked before a bunt single by Adam Floyd loaded the bases. Cory Lane would single to make it a 6-5 game.
Clifford continued to battle control problems as he walked Stallings to force in a run, 7-5. Mike Ambrose then collected his first hit of the day with an RBI single through the left side, and the ball was misplayed by the left fielder to allow a second run to score and make it a 9-5 game.
Spencer Steedley singled to re-load the bases, before Stallings would score on a wild pitch to make it 10-5. Ambrose would score on another wild pitch by Clifford for an 11-5 edge.
Chris Taylor walked to put two men on for Kris Rochelle's, whose double down the left field line plated two more for an 13-5 advantage. After a pitching change initially drew a groundout, Bray was hit by a pitch and then Floyd drove in a run with a sac fly to make it 14-5.
The Niners would put the final run of Saturday on the board courtesy of a grounder by Steedley, who ended up reaching on an error (it should have been an RBI groundout).
When the game resumed on Sunday afternoon, the 49ers defense clamped down and didn't allow a hit over the Griffs' final three turns at bat, as freshman Kyle Pfirrman earned his first career save. He pitched those final three innings, allowing just two walks and recording four strikeouts.
The 49ers added three more runs in Sunday's three-inning conclusion. Cory Lane had an RBI single in the seventh, while Aaron Bray had an RBI double and Alan Parks scored on a balk.
