Adam Mills has 99 strikeouts to go with three complete-game shutouts this season. |
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Mills Tosses Two-Hit Shutout as Charlotte Defeats Saint Joseph's 9-0
April 5, 2007
Charlotte, N.C. - Charlotte senior right hander Adam Mills tossed a two-hit shutout, tying his career-high with 14 strikeouts and Brad McElroy had a pair of home runs as Charlotte defeated Saint Joseph's 9-0 Thursday evening to start an Atlantic 10 series at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium. Charlotte improves to 24-5 overall, 6-1 in A-10 play, while the Hawks drop to 4-21 overall, 2-5 in league play.
The complete-game effort was Mills' fifth of the season and third in a row, and the shutout was his third of the year, the second in conference play. With the 14 strikeouts, Mills has now fanned 99 batters in 76.2 innings pitched. He tied Brannon Player for his 13th career complete game and tied Chris Haney and Steve Southard for fourth in team career shutouts. The win also put him in a tie with Ryan Baker for 3rd on the all-time list, while the strikeouts moved him up two spots to second all-time in team history with 328. Only current New York Met John Maine has more career strikeouts by a Niner.
Charlotte left the bases loaded in the first and the game was scoreless going to the fifth, as Mills and Hawks' starter Adam Rivera cruised through the early portion of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Niners had five hits, including back-to-back singles by Chris Lane and Alex Bryant. Following a Cory Lane sacrifice fly for the first run of the game, Charlotte put up back-to-back RBI doubles by shortstop Shayne Moody and catcher Kris Rochelle. McElroy hit an inside-the-park homer to center to drive home two runs and get Charlotte out to a 5-0 lead. McElroy has now hit safely in 13 consecutive games, tying the team's season-high mark.
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The Niners scored two more runs in the sixth on just one hit, a walk and a hit by pitch.
In the top of the seventh, the Hawks threatened with runners at the corners and one out, but the defense registered a double caught stealing to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, McElroy hit a blast to right, clearing the trees beyond the fence for Charlotte's first multi-homer game of the season. He leads the squad with six home runs. A walk and an RBI double by Alex Burt plated the final run of the game.
Rivera dropped to 1-3 with the loss. He lasted 4.2 innings, allowing eight hits, striking out three.
Mills leads the A-10 in wins, strikeouts and ERA (now at 1.06).
Charlotte has now won five in a row and 17 of 19 contests. The Niners are 17-1 at home this season.
Charlotte and Saint Joseph's resume the series Friday night at 6 p.m.
