Cory Lane drove in three runs in the Sunday victory. |
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Niners Rally Late to Sweep Billikens
April 3, 2005
St. Louis, Mo. - Charlotte scored five times in the final two innings to complete a three-game sweep of Saint Louis, winning 9-5 on Sunday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center.
Saint Louis (4-20, 1-8 C-USA) got a good start out of sophomore Ryan Bird, who allowed four runs in the top of the second but shut down the Niner offense over the next four innings.
Charlotte (19-9, 5-4 C-USA) trailed 5-4 heading to the top of the eighth, but rallied for three runs to take control of the game. Senior Adam Willard led off the inning by doubling off the right field wall on the first pitch. After Kris Rochelle struck out, Spencer Steedley drew a walk. Willard and Steedley then executed a double steal, putting Willard in position to score on a RBI groundout to short by Chris Taylor.
Cory Lane then hit a ground ball to second, which went through the legs of Patrick Valdez on what should have been the third out and allowed Steedley to score. Chris Lane tripled into left field in the next at-bat to plate his brother and chase Billken starter Ryan Bird.
That brought on B.J. Rodrique, who got Alex Bryant to pop out to the first baseman in foul territory.
Reliever Matt Foard allowed a two-out double in the Billiken eighth, but got the next batter to pop out to second base to end the inning.
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Charlotte tacked on two more runs in the ninth, when Stallings was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a single byWillard, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Rochelle. Steedley, who had six RBI on Friday night, drew his third walk of the game to put two on for Chris Taylor. The freshman singled through the left side, and Willard scored from second as the errant throw home hit him in the batting helmet.
Foard (2-1) struggled in the bottom of the ninth, walking consecutive batters on eight straight pitches. He gave way to Erik Walker, who picked up his sixth save of the season by inducing a fielder's choice groundout to second base.
Seventh hitter Cory Lane drove in three runs in the game, in which the six-seven-eight hitters drove in eight of Charlotte's nine runs. Taylor, hitting sixth, had two RBI, while number eight hitter Chris Lane also drove in a pair.
The sweep puts Charlotte on the positive side of the Conference USA standings for the first time this season at 5-4. The team has won four straight, and six of its last seven outings.
Charlotte struck for four runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Kris Rochelle led off the inning wiht a single through the left side, before Spencer Steedley walked and Chris Taylor singled to load the bases. Cory Lane, hitting in the seventh spot, tripled into the right field corner to clear the bases. His twin, Chris Lane, drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right field in the next at-bat.
49er starter Matt Landphair couldn't find the plate in the bottom of the third. He only allowed one baserunner through the first two innings, but issued two straight walks and a single leading off the third. Landphair then gave up two bases-loaded walks to allow the Billikens to cut the deficit in half.
That brought freshman Keith Moreland on to pitch for the Niners. He induced a 6-4-3 double play on the first batter, which scored a runner from third, and struck out the final batter of the inning to end the threat.
The 49er offense couldn't get much going after the second inning. Adam Willard doubled and was stranded in the third, and Chris Taylor walked in the fourth and was left on. Charlotte put two on with one out in the top of the fifth, when Mike Ambrose singled and Adam Willard drew a walk. However a foul out to first and a fly out to center left both runners stranded.
Saint Louis would take their first lead in the bottom of the fifth, when left fielder John Stalling misplayed a ball off his glove that resulted in a two-base error. That was followed by a walk, and first baseman Scott Peden doubled down the third base line to plate a run. A sacrifice fly to left by Johnny Sweeney gave the Billikens the lead.
The Niners went in order in the sixth, and Moreland allowed just a walk in the Billiken sixth. Batting in the top of the seventh, Stallings hit a one-out single up the middle. He was erased on a caught stealing to end the inning.
Matt Foard relieved Moreland, and allowed a single but got out of the inning.
Charlotte hosts regional rival Winthrop in a non-conference battle on Wednesday night, before welcoming Conference USA foe Tulane to town for a three-game series beginning Friday. The series finale on Sunday, April 10 at 1:00 p.m. will be televised live by C-SET, Carolinas Sports Entertainment Television.
