Redshirt Freshman Cory Tilton hit his first career home run in Charlotte's 3-2 10-inning effort Friday. |
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Charlotte Baseball Outlasts Cleveland State 3-2 in 10 Innings
Feb. 29, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Second baseman Aaron Bray knocked in the game-winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth inning on a sacrifice fly in Charlotte's 3-2 win over Cleveland State in NCAA baseball action Friday evening at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium. The 49ers remain undefeated at home in four contests and improve to 5-1 on the season. The Vikings drop to 1-3.
The Vikings scored an unearned run in the third after catcher Josh Geric doubled to right and advanced to third on an error. He later scored on an RBI groundout by shortstop by Tom Carter.
The Vikings held that lead until the fifth inning when Bray singled and stole second base. After a Shayne Moody walk and a flyout, right fielder Chris Taylor doubled to right to score Bray and tie the game at one.
Left fielder Cory Tilton hit his first career home run to leadoff the sixth inning, a full-count pitch over the left field fence to give Charlotte the 2-1 lead.
CSU tied the game in the next half-inning. First baseman John Foco walked and stole second. Geric put down a sacrifice bunt to move Foco to third and he scored on an RBI ground ball to short by David Hurd to tie the game at two.
Despite getting baserunners in the eighth and ninth innings, Cleveland State could not get further than second base against Charlotte relievers Sam Pierce, Luke Stahl and Bryan Hamilton.
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Charlotte left two on in the seventh and left the bases loaded in the ninth without scoring. In the tenth, first baseman Alex Burt hit a leadoff infield single, followed by an O'Brien Taylor sacrifice bunt that turned into a hit and late substitution Corey Shaylor walked to lead the bases for Bray, who lifted the first pitch he saw deep enough to left to score Burt and end the game.
Charlotte outhit Cleveland State 12-4 in the contest. CSU allowed nine walks in the game, including Chris Taylor three times. Two of the walks by CSU pitchers were intentional.
Both starting pitchers put together solid performances, but got no-decisions for their efforts. Charlotte's Zach Rosenbaum tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just three hits and three walks and one earned run, striking out six. Cleveland State's Josh Hungerman lasted six innings, allowing eight hits and three walks, striking out three. He allowed the two Charlotte runs, both earned, in his outing.
Hamilton got his first win of the season (1-0) in late relief. He threw the final 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing his first baserunner of the season in 4.2 innings with a walk. His ERA remains a perfect 0.00 in three outings.
Vasili Pahoulis took the loss (0-1). He allowed the one earned run in 1.2 innings of relief. He allowed two hits and one walk, striking out a batter.
The two teams will play Saturday and Sunday games at noon in Charlotte.
