Rochelle's double scored the first runs of the day. |
|
|
Charlotte Downs Penn State, 6-3, in Non-Conference Play
Feb. 19, 2005
Charlotte, N.C. - Behind the strong pitching of Adam Mills and four extra base hits, the Charlotte 49ers Baseball team defeated Big Ten foe Penn State, 6-3, in a non-conference tilt on Saturday afternoon at Tom & Lib Phillips Field.
Charlotte (2-2) got its second straight strong outing from Mills, who had not started a game prior to this year. The sophomore pitched into the sixth inning once again, allowing three runs on five hits, and striking out five in 5.2 innings. Junior Erik Walker picked up the Niners first save of the year, pitching a perfect 2.1 innings with seven strike outs.
The Niners scored runs in innings three through five to jump out to a 6-0 lead. In the third, the bottom of the order got things started against Nittany Lion starter Sean Stidfole. An Adam Floyd single was followed by a Cory Lane walk, and leadoff hitter O'Brien Taylor singled to load the bases. Then, with one out, catcher Kris Rochelle hit a two-run double for the day's first runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Charlotte tacked on three more runs. Mike Ambrose led off the inning with a double, one of two on the day for the junior transfer, and advanced to third on a passed ball. Floyd then singled Ambrose home for a 3-0 edge before stealing second. Still with no outs, Lane, the number nine hitter, tripled to right center to score Floyd. Taylor then scored Lane on a fielder's choice bunt to first base.
The Niners added one run in the bottom of the fifth, when freshman Alex Burt collected his first collegiate RBI, singling home Chris Taylor.
|
|
 |
Penn State, playing in its season opener, scored three times off of Mills in the top of the sixth but could not overcome the Niners six-run head start. Colin Runt led the Nittany Lions with two RBI, while six different players collected one hit apiece.
Charlotte will host the Nittany Lions again on Sunday, with first pitch slated for noon. Saturday's game touched off a string of seven games in the next nine days at the on-campus Tom & Lib Phillips Field.
