McDaid allowed just one earned run in picking up his fourth victory. |
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Niners Jump Out to Big Lead, Defeat Saint Louis 11-7
April 2, 2005
St. Louis, Mo. - The Charlotte 49ers baseball team scored six runs in a decisive sixth inning and held off a late Saint Louis run in an 11-7 Conference USA win at the Billiken Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. The Niners also defeated the Billikens on Friday night, 21-9.
Saint Louis (4-19, 1-7 C-USA) struck first, scoring in the bottom of the second. Scott Peden led off with a double to center field, and moved to third on a wild pitch. He would score on an error by right fielder Spencer Steedley, who dropped a fly ball in anticipation of throwing home as Peden was tagging up at third.
Charlotte (18-9, 4-4 C-USA) evened the score in the top of the third. Freshman John Stallings singled into center to lead off the inning, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to short. Shortstop Mike Ambrose then hit the ball to short and beat out the throw, allowing Stallings to knot the game at one apiece.
The Niners finally broke through in the sixth against SLU starter Eric Rohr. Senior Adam Willard singled up the middle to lead off the inning, and scored when Kris Rochelle's double past third base made its way down into the extreme left field corner. After Steedley walked, freshman Chris Taylor singled through the left side to plate Rochelle and prompt a Billiken pitching change.
Chris Lane singled to load the bases for Stallings, who collected his third hit of the day with a two-run single into right field. Alex Bryant made it three straight singles, driving a ball up the middle to plate a run, and Stallings came around to score on a double play groundout in the next at-bat to give the Niners a 7-1 lead.
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49er starter Derek McDaid worked out of his first jam in the bottom of the seventh. After Scott Peden singled to lead off the inning, McDaid hit Johnny Sweeney in the foot with a pitch. McDaid induced a flyout to right, before the runners moved over on a groundout to third base. McDaid then struck out DH Neil Gaser swinging to end the inning, as SLU stranded two.
The Barrie, Ontario native finished with seven innings pitched, allowing just one earned run on four hits. He struck out five.
Chris Taylor homered for the third straight game, when he hit a full-count pitch to deep left-center leading off the eighth inning. That was one of two homers in the inning, as he was followed five batters later by Ambrose, whose two-run shot cleared the left field wall. Alex Bryant also singled in a run in the inning, the second straight night the third baseman collected a RBI.
The Billikens rallied for five runs over the final two innings off of the Niner bullpen, but closer Erik Walker struck out two in the ninth inning to seal the victory.
Ambrose finished with two hits and three RBI, giving him five hits thusfar in the series. Chris Taylor collected two singles in addition to his home run, and joined Chris Lane and Stallings with three hits apiece.
These teams meet in the series finale on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.
