May 15, 2007

Box Score

Charlotte 9, VT 3

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Charlotte scored a combined seven runs in the fourth and sixth innings, and its bullpen allowed just one hit over the final four frames as the 49ers dropped the Virginia Tech Hokies by a score of 9-3 Tuesday night in non-conference baseball action at English Field.

Luke Stahl (2-0) pitched five innings to earn the win for Charlotte (41-10) while giving up six hits and three runs, none of which were earned. Brian Hamilton and Kyle Pfirrman retired 10 straight at one point in relief.

The Hokies fell to 22-29 overall with the loss, but finished with a 16-8 mark in non-ACC games. Rob Whitley (Danville, Va., 2-2) took the loss for Tech after allowing six runs on nine hits in four innings pitched, but Rhett Ballard (High Point, N.C.) and Josh Canova (Vienna, Va.) combined for six strikeouts while no-hitting the 49ers over the final 3.2 innings.

The 49ers pushed across a pair of runs in the first inning. Aaron Bray started the inning with a single and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Shayne Moody. Following a pop out for the first out, Brad McElroy reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Bray to score. A two-out double to left field by designated hitter Chris Taylor brought McElroy all the way around from first with the second run of the inning.

Tech took advantage of three hits and a pair of costly Charlotte errors to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Right fielder Nate Parks (Roanoke, Va.) legged out a one-out double to get things started. A throwing error on a ball hit to third allowed Warren Schaeffer to reach first base. When the 49ers' first baseman picked up the ball and threw wildly back to third in an attempt to put out Parks, it allowed the Tech right fielder to come home and Schaeffer to take second base. Designated hitter Jose Cueto (Miami, Fla.) followed with a run-scoring single to tie the game.

Another Charlotte miscue helped Tech take the lead in the third inning. Parks provided the spark once again, getting into scoring position with an infield single and a stolen base. Parks took third on an infield single by Schaeffer and continued on home when the ball was mishandled. The stolen base was the 96^th of Parks' career, tying him with Brian Rupe for second place all-time at Tech.

The 49ers promptly regained the upper hand - this time for good - with four runs in the top of the fourth. An RBI-triple by Spencer Steedley, followed by a run-producing groundout from Alex Burt made the score 4-3. Charlotte added two more runs on four consecutive two-out singles, with Kris Rochelle and McElroy picking up the RBIs.

Taylor doubled in a run for Charlotte in the sixth when his fly ball to left field was lost in the lights. Cory Lane then doubled in Taylor, moved to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch by Ballard, giving the visitors a 9-3 advantage.

Every starter contributed at least one hit for Charlotte, which finished with a total of 13. Bray, Moody, McElroy and Taylor had two hits apiece for the 49ers. Parks collected three of Tech's seven hits in the contest.

The Hokies will close out their season with a three-game ACC series against Wake Forest at English Field, beginning Thursday night at 7.