Mike Ambrose was one of two 49ers with a pair of hits, and had the team's lone RBI |
|
|
Grand Slam Sinks 49ers in 7-2 Loss at UAB
April 30, 2005
Birmingham, Ala. - A fifth-inning grand slam broke open a tie game, and the Charlotte 49ers dropped a 7-2 Conference USA decision to UAB at Young Memorial Field on Saturday.
The first half of the game was a pitchers' duel, as each team managed just one run on three hits through four-and-a-half innings.
But UAB (27-16, 11-9 C-USA)broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Metcalf singled through the left side, before Dan Stucky and Zac Ward drew one-out walks to load the bases. 49er starter Adam Mills found the zone in time to strike out Nathan McCorkle, but gave up a grand slam to Cole Helms in the next at-bat. His eighth homer of the season cleared the scoreboard in left field for a 5-1 UAB lead.
Mills would walk the next batter to signal the end of his day and bring on reliever B.J. Hagen, who got J.R. Bond to pop up to Rochelle in foul territory down the first base line to end the inning. Mills finished with 4.2 innings pitched, his shortest start of the season, allowing five runs on five hits and five walks.
Adam Willard singled up the middle to lead off the sixth inning for Charlotte (25-18, 8-12 C-USA), and would score on a two-out double to left center by Mike Ambrose to make it a 5-2 game. John Stallings reached on an infield singled up the middle, but Chris Taylor struck out looking to strand runners on the corners.
That was the story of the game for the 49ers, who out-hit the Blazers 9-8 but left nine runners on base.
Charlotte hit the ball on the ground for a majority of the game, including 18 groundouts, two bunt hits, three infield hits, and a fielder's choice grounder.
UAB starter Jeff Brown threw the first complete game of the season for any Blazer pitcher, allowing just one walk while striking out four.
|
|
 |
Charlotte finishes up the three-game set with UAB tomorrow, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. Eastern time.
UAB struck first on Saturday with a run in the bottom of the third off 49er starter Adam Mills. Shortstop Ryan Metcalf doubled down the left field line with one out, and following a walk and a flyout to center he scored on a RBI single to left by Zac Ward. Mills got a grounder to second to strand two runners and get out of the inning.
Charlotte answered back in the next half inning with an unearned run following a throwing error on Blazer pitcher Jeff Brown. Kris Rochelle reached on a bunt down the third base line with one out, and Spencer Steedley singled through the right side. Mike Ambrose's fielder's choice grounder got Steedley at second, but moved Rochelle to third. Brown then attempted a pick off at first base, but the throw was wide and first baseman Nathan McCorkle had to stretch out over Ambrose as he dove back to the bag. The errant throw allowed Rochelle to score for the Niners.
McCorkle notched his eighth homer of the year with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-2 Blazer lead. UAB added their seventh run when Metcalf beat out an infield hit toward shortstop, driving in Bond from third with two outs in the eighth.
