Freshman John Stallings laced a triple into right center to score the winning run. |
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Stallings, Walker Help 49ers Close Out Bearcats
April 17, 2005
Cincinnati, Ohio - Cincinnati staged an eighth-inning comeback, but closer Erik Walker came on to shut them down and preserve a 6-5 Charlotte win in the final game of a Conference USA weekend series at UC Baseball Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Charlotte (21-15, 6-9 C-USA) added what they thought would be insurance in the top of the eighth. After Spencer Steedley doubled to lead off the inning, Cincinnati brought in closer Josh Kay. Kay struck out Chris Taylor and got to a full count against John Stallings, who was a mid-game replacement. But the freshman laced a one-hopper to the fence in right-center for a RBI triple. The run, which gave Charlotte a 6-3 lead, would prove crucial when Cincinnati staged a rally in the bottom half of the inning.
Cincinnati (15-17, 5-9 C-USA) closed the gap to just one run, 6-5, with a pair of runs against freshman reliever Keith Moreland. After a groundout to start the inning, Moreland allowed a single and a hit batsman to put two men on. Pinch hitter Pat LeMasters hit a potential double play ball to second, but the throw was high and shortstop Mike Ambrose was unable to get the runner at first. That came back to haunt the Niners, when LaFringe Hayes singled through the right side to plate the inning's second run and chase Moreland.
49er closer Erik Walker came on with two outs and one on, but promptly issued a four-pitch walk to Mark Haske. Now facing No. 3 hitter Jon DeLuca, Walker induced a fly out to right field to get out of the jam.
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Needing a run to tie the game, Logan Parker lined a double into right center field to lead off the Cincinnati ninth. However Walker got a strike out, an infield pop out and a fly out to right to close out his eighth save of the season. It was Walker's 15th career save, giving him the school record in just his third season. With eight this season, he is third on the all-time single-season list.
Charlotte snapped a season-worst five-game losing streak with Sunday's victory, and prevented a second consecutive C-USA sweep. Cincinnati took two of three from the Niners for the second straight year, winning the opening two games on both occasions. This was the final game in what could be the last series between the teams for some time, as each school leaves Conference USA following the season.
Cincinnati lifted starter Kevin Schrader after just two innings of work. The reliever, right-hander Matt Heber, gave up a monster home run to Cory Lane on just his third pitch. Lane drove the ball just to the right of the scoreboard in right field, and the ball struck the Plexiglass window at the front of Fifth Third Arena on the fly. Fifth Third (the Bearcats' home basketball venue) sits about 25 feet beyond the right field wall, and the fence is raised to about 15 feet. The shot gave Charlotte a 4-0 lead.
Charlotte starter Matt Landphair would leave after pitching six innings. He allowed three runs on eight hits to pick up his third win of the season. Moreland lasted 1.2 inning. He pitched a perfect seventh, but gave up two runs in the eighth and was replaced by Walker.
With two in the game, the 49ers now have 23 triples this season. That is tied for second-most in school history. The team record is 24, set in 1999.
Charlotte struck for three runs on just one hit in their opening turn at bat, marking the first time this series the Niners started the scoring. Cincinnati had scored a single run in the first inning of the first two games.
O'Brien Taylor was hit by the first pitch of the game, while Cory Lane and Mike Ambrose drew four-pitch walks to load the bases. Adam Willard collected the first RBI of the day with a ground out to first base, before Spencer Steedley's sacrifice fly to center plated the second run. Designated hitter Chris Taylor singled into center to give the 49ers a 3-0 advantage, logging the first hit of the day in the team's sixth at-bat.
The Bearcats got one run back in the bottom half of the third, when LaFringe Hayes singled and scored from first on a double down the left field line by Jon DeLuca.
In the fourth, freshman Chris Taylor collected his second career triple when he smoked a ball into the left-center gap. It hit off the top of the fence in one of the deepest parts of the park. He scored when Chris Lane singled into center in the next at-bat.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cincinnati got another run when Hayes singled through the right side to score Mark Muscenti. Muscenti had reached when he was hit by a pitch in the thigh, which prompted an argument from the Charlotte bench because it appeared he made no attempt to avoid being hit. With catcher Jim Olds (single) on third and Hayes at second after a throw, Matt Landphair got out of the inning by getting Mark Haske to ground out to second base.
The Bearcats stranded six men in scoring position over the first six innings, including the pair in the fourth.
The Niners had an opportunity to blow the game open in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Mike Ambrose was hit by a pitch before Willard and Steedley each walked to load the bases. Chris Taylor would strike out swinging to end the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cincinnati would get their third run when Muscenti was hit by a pitch for the second time, and a two-out double by Hayes down the left field line drove him in.
