O'Brien Taylor's ninth inning walk forced in the game-winning run. |
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Niners Walk Away With 3-2 Win Over Louisville
May 7, 2005
Charlotte, N.C. - Redshirt freshman O'Brien Taylor drew a full-count, bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Charlotte 49ers a 3-2 Conference USA win over Louisville on Saturday afternoon at Tom & Lib Phillips Field.
In stark contrast to an offense-filled 9-8 game on Friday, the teams were knotted at two heading to the final inning on Saturday. Louisville (25-19, 11-11 C-USA) put two aboard in the ninth for the second straight game, this time with two singles against 49er starter Adam Mills. Closer Erik Walker entered the tie ballgame with two outs, and struck out Boomer Whiting looking to get the Niners to their half of the inning.
Cory Lane led off the bottom of the frame by collecting his third hit of the day for Charlotte (26-20, 9-14 C-USA). Cory's single up the middle was followed by his twin brother, Chris Lane, executing a sacrifice bunt to move him to second. Alex Bryant then singled deep into the hole at shortstop to put runners on the corners.
Leadoff hitter Mike Ambrose hit a dribbler to the right side, but pitcher Jon Harbridge's throw to second base was ruled to have pulled shortstop Chris Cates off the bag. That negated what would have been the second out. After the Cardinals argued against the call to no avail, the Niners had the bases loaded and "O'B" left the 3-2 pitch low to drive in the winning run.
The win evens the series at one game apiece and pulls Charlotte back within 2 1/2 games of Louisville in the C-USA standings. The Cardinals are one of three teams that entered Saturday in a tie for the final three spots in the league's postseason tournament.
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Mills went a career-high 8.2 innings in the contest, but got no decision when he left in favor of Walker. Mills struck out eight and allowed just two runs. Walker (3-2) needed just one strikeout to earn the decision, giving him a win (2) or save (4) in six of Charlotte's nine conference wins this season.
Cory Lane finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, including the game-winner in the ninth. Bryant had two hits for the second straight day, and his fourth multi-hit game on Saturday was arguably the most important when his presence on base helped force in the winning run. Chris Lane, Bryant and Taylor each collected a RBI for the 49ers.
Louisville took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a RBI single by Greg Taylor and a sacrifice bunt by Chris Cates. The 49ers made it a 2-1 ballgame in the bottom of the fifth, when Cory Lane reached on an error by the shortstop, stole second, advanced to third on a bad throw by the catcher, and scored on a groundout to third base by Bryant.
Charlotte tied the score with a single run in the bottom of the seventh. Garrett Hanselman singled through the left side, and Cory Lane's single up the middle moved pinch runner Grant Hafer into scoring position at third base. Chris Lane then laid down a perfect bunt single between the pitcher's mound and first base to knot the game at two.
The series finale will start at 12:00 on Sunday, with all mothers admitted free of charge for Mother's Day. The first 100 through the gate will receive a flower courtesy of the 49ers Athletic Department.
