Cory Lane hit his fifth homer of the season in the fifth. |
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Unlucky Ninth Inning Bounce Ends Rally
May 13, 2005
Charlotte, N.C. - Garrett Hanselman's groundball to the right side in the bottom of the ninth took an unlucky bounce, hitting baserunner Kris Rochelle on the heel of his trail leg in midair to end a Charlotte 49er rally, and Houston escaped with a 7-5 decision on Friday night at Tom & Lib Phillips Field.
Charlotte (26-22, 9-16 C-USA) rallied for two runs apiece in the bottom of the eight and ninth innings to close a 7-1 gap. But it was the final swing of the game that proved most important, when the grounder behind Rochelle shorthopped into his foot to end the game.
The rally began in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Shea Hancock. O'Brien Taylor drew a one-out walk before Adam Willard singled into center field to put runners on the corners. Rochelle then smacked what should have been a RBI-groundout to third base, but the ball went between the legs of Bryan Pounds to leave two men on. After a strikeout, Spencer Steedley singled through the right side to score the second run and cut the lead to 6-3.
Closer Justin Vaclavik came on to get a groundout at shortstop to end the inning.
But the 49ers, down 7-3 now, would make Vaclavik work for his 10th save of the season in the following frame. Again a one-out walk started the rally, as Cory Lane reached. Mike Ambrose then singled when his grounder took a high hop over the second baseman's head. A groundout by Taylor left runners on second and third with two away, before Willard walked to load the bases for Rochelle.
The catcher grounded to third base once again, but Pounds bobbled the ball and his throw to second was offline and into the outfield. That allowed two runs to score, leaving runners on the corners for Hanselman. The freshman, who had been 0-for-4 on the night, stroked the ball to the right side but the unfortunate bounce ended the contest.
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Second baseman Cory Lane provided the only other offense for Charlotte, hitting his fifth homer of the season off the face of the scoreboard in right center in the fifth inning. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
Bryan Tully (2-for-5) and Dustin Kingsbury (3-for-6) each notched a pair of RBI. Kevin Roberts hit his eighth home run to leadoff the fifth inning.
With the win, Houston (24-25, 14-10 C-USA) clinches a berth in the eight-team Conference USA Tournament, presented by POWERade.
These teams meet again on Saturday with first pitch set for 2:00. Sunday is the finale home game of the season and senior day, when the 49ers will honor four-year standout Adam Willard before the game.
