Aaron Bray had three hits but Charlotte came up short in a 7-6 loss to Rhode Island Friday night. |
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Niners Drop Game Two of Doubleheader to Rhode Island 7-6
May 16, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Rhode Island scored seven early runs and hung on despite a Charlotte rally and ended the day with a doubleheader split, winning the nightcap 7-6 on Friday evening at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium in Atlantic 10 baseball action. Rhode Island ups its record to 29-24-1, 15-10-1 in league play. Charlotte falls to 39-14 overall, and 18-8 in league play. Charlotte finds itself in a tie with Xavier for the top spot in league play with one game left in the season, but secured a bye and at least a two-seed in the upcoming A-10 Tournament.
The Rams put up three runs on the scoreboard in the first with a three-run homer by Zach Zaneski to straightaway center field. The Rams were then able to put up four more in the third on an error, four hits and a sacrifice and took a 7-0 lead.
Charlotte scored a pair in the bottom of the third on a two-RBI double down the left field line to get the Niners on the board. Lyerly finished the day with five RBI over the doubleheader split.
Charlotte got back into the game with a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Chris Taylor and three in the eighth with a bases-clearing double by pinch hitter Mike Perkins. Taylor's RBI gives him a conference-leading 65 on the season, tying his career-best output from last season. Charlotte got a runner to third in the ninth, but could not get the run home and even the score.
Charlotte's Aaron Bray had three hits to lead all players, while Perkins and Zaneski each drove in the game-high three.
The win went to starter Nick Greenwood. He held Charlotte to three runs in six innings, giving up 10 hits and a walk. He struck out seven and improved to 5-6.
Charlotte starter Zach Rosenbaum gave up seven runs in 2.2 innings pitched, though three were unearned. He allowed five hits and two walks to drop to 5-2 on the season.
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The rubber game of the weekend series will be senior day, when Charlotte honors its seven outgoing seniors in their final home game. The Saturday contest begins at noon. A win would give Charlotte at least a share of the Atlantic 10 title.
