Rochelle's sixth homer was part of an eight-run Niner outburst. |
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Niners Explode for Eight Early Runs, Hold on to Down ECU
March 26, 2005
Greenville, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers scored eight runs in the first three innings and staved off an East Carolina comeback attempt to earn their second straight win, 9-6, on Saturday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
This was the first of two games to be played on Saturday. East Carolina officials changed the weekend's schedule after weather reports called for heavy rain on Sunday.
East Carolina (13-9, 0-5 C-USA) scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to bring them within three. Charlotte's Erik Walker came on to close out the game in the ninth, and initially struggled with his command after finishing Friday's win. He allowed a single to lead off the inning, and then walked the second hitter to bring up catcher Jake Smith. Walker got him to fly out to shallow left field on a nice sliding catch by O'Brien Taylor.
With one out and two on, Ryan Peisel came to the plate and also flew out to Taylor. Designated hitter Mike Grace came up with two outs representing ECU's final opportunity, but Walker got him to strike out swinging to earn his fifth save of the season.
Charlotte (15-8, 2-3 C-USA) scored four runs in the first inning off of Pirate starter Mike Flye, who falls to 4-3 on the year with the loss.
With one out in the first, O'Brien Taylor was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Three-hitter Adam Willard was also hit by a pitch, and Kris Rochelle hit a ball through the legs of the third baseman to score Taylor. Willard stole third and Rochelle advanced on the throw, putting two runners on the left side for Spencer Steedley. He singled through the right side to score Willard. Shortstop Mike Ambrose then hit a triple into the deep right field corner to plate two more runs.
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The Niners struck for three in the second. Alex Bryant led off with a walk, and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Cory Lane. After O'Brien Taylor struck out, Willard's two-out single into center plated Bryant. Rochelle then drove his sixth home run of the season over the left field fence to give Charlotte a 7-0 advantage.
Chris Lane added his first home run of the season in the third to spot the Niners an 8-0 lead.
ECU scored one in the bottom of the third and then plated three in the bottom of the sixth to begin their comeback. Adam Witter doubled in the first run of the sixth, before consecutive singles by pinch hitter Mike Grace and Brian Cavanaugh drove in one run each.
Cory Lane matched his brother with a solo home run in the top of the eighth to give the 49ers an insurance run, before ECU answered with two in the bottom half. With two out and two on, Billy Richardson hit a two-run homer to left-center off of reliever Matt Foard. The ball glanced off the glove of left fielder O'Brien Taylor, who jumped up to make a player on the ball. Foard got Harrison Eldridge to fly out to left to end the inning.
49er starter Derek McDaid picked up the win, moving to 3-1 on the season. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. He struck out two. Matt Foard pitched 2.2 innings of relief, and was responsible for two runs on the Richardson homer.
The 49ers made several nice plays defensively in the game. In the third, Chris Lane made a catch over his head sprinting toward the center field wall to rob Mark Eldridge of a hit. In the seventh, twin brother Cory Lane went deep in the hole at second base, spun the opposite direction and Spencer Steedley made a nice pick out of the dirt to get the leadoff hitter.
