Cory Lane smashed his fourth homer of the season in the ninth to get Charlotte its 31st win of the season. |
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Cory Lane's Walk-Off Homer in the Ninth Leads Charlotte Past Dayton 4-2
April 20, 2007
Charlotte, N.C. - Senior Cory Lane hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth as No. 23 Charlotte defeated Dayton 4-2 in Atlantic 10 baseball at Robert and Marian Hayes Stadium Friday night. The 49ers are 31-6 overall, including a 12-1 record in the Atlantic 10. The Niners are 21-1 at home this season. Dayton drops to 16-20, 5-8 in A-10 play.
Charlotte jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning when Lane doubled and came home on a ground out by catcher Kris Rochelle. Brad McElroy hit a two-out home run, his team-leading seventh, to center to extend the lead.
The Flyers got solo runs in the second and third innings to tie the game. Third baseman Joe McSoley singled and scored in both innings, and an RBI single by Michael Massa in the second, and an RBI single by Myles Swartzel in the third.
Despite baserunners for both teams from the fourth inning on, neither team could manage a score until the ninth for the Niners. Charlotte had allowed walk-off home runs three times this season, but Friday's blast was the first at home.
Flyers closer Alex Dye took the loss (0-1). He retired the first two Niners he faced before allowing a walk to Chris Lane and the homer to his twin in the ninth.
Charlotte reliever Sam Pierce got the win (2-1). He retired Massa with two on in the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth to get the win.
Neither starter got a decision, with both lasting into the eighth. Charlotte's Adam Mills allowed a season-high nine hits and four walks, while striking out a season-low three hitters in 7.1 innings. It was his second no-decision of the season, since the Niners' first game of 2007.
Dayton's Chris Rubio lasted 7.2 innings, allowing seven hits and three walks, striking out five.
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Massa was 3-for-5 for Dayton with three singles and an RBI. McSoley was 2-for-5 with both runs.
Cory Lane and first baseman Alex Burt each had two hits for Charlotte.
The win was Charlotte's first over Dayton. The Flyers swept the three-game series last season in their first-ever meeting.
Game two of the series starts at 2 p.m. Saturday in Charlotte.
