March 16, 2008

Box Score

Charlotte, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers pounded out a season-high 25 hits on its way to a 23-5 victory over the Stony Brook University baseball team in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at R&M Hayes Stadium. Alan Parks went 2-for-4 with five RBI to lead the 49ers to a 13-4 win over the Seawolves in game two. Stony Brook falls to 4-5 with the losses while Charlotte improves to 14-2.

SBU took an early lead in game one, as sophomore Michael Stephan (Patchogue-Medford, N.Y.) doubled with two outs in the first and then came around to score on an RBI single from freshman Nick Thode (Huntington Station, N.Y.). The 49ers came right back though with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first against Stony Brook's senior starter Gary Novakowski (Prospect, CT.). Chris Taylor got Charlotte on the board with a one-out RBI double and then came home on a run-scoring single from Alex Burt. Rob Lyerly then drove in the final run of the inning with a RBI single to center.

Stony Brook went in order in the top of the second before Charlotte blew the game open with eight runs in the bottom of the inning, sending 12 men to the plate. Novakowski got O'Brien Taylor to begin the inning but that is the last batter he would retire as eight straight 49ers reached base against the right-hander. Chris Taylor, Lyerly and Burt each tallied two-run singles in the inning with Burt's knocking Novakowksi from the game. Junior Marc Brown (Lancaster, Pa.) came on to pitch for the Seawolves, eventually getting out of the inning with a strike out of Brad McElroy but not before the 49ers had expanded their lead to 11-1.

The Seawolves answered right back though, scoring three runs of their own in the third. Junior Brian Witkowski (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) reached with one out, stole second and then scored on a run-scoring single from freshman Chad Marshall (Paris, Ontario). Stephan then came up and blasted a two-run home run to right to draw SBU to within 11-4. Charlotte once again had a response though, scoring three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. O'Brien Taylor had the big hit of the inning, a base-loaded two-run single that pushed the 49ers advantage to 13-4.

Joe Yermal (3-0) picked up the victory for Charlotte, allowing four earned runs on five hits in 6.0 innings of work. Burt was one of the many offensive starts for the 49ers, going 5-for-6 with four RBI. Chris Taylor added three hits for Charlotte, driving in five runs. Stephan went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI for the Seawolves.

SBU once again took an early lead in game two, striking for two runs in the top of the first. The Seawolves loaded the bases with two outs and Thode then grounded one to second that was mishandled by second baseman Cory Shaylor, allowing Witkowski to score. Stephan then scored the second Stony Brook run when the Charlotte starter Andrew Smith uncorked a wild pitch.

But the Charlotte bats picked up where they left off in game one. The 49ers loaded the bases with one out against Stony Brook junior right-hander Mike Errigo (Bayside, N.Y.) to bring up Parks who slammed a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall to give Charlotte a 4-2 lead.

A Stephan RBI groundout in the top of the second drew the Seawolves to within a run but Charlotte struck for three more runs in the bottom of the third. The 49ers put runners on second and third with nobody out and Shaylor then drove a two-run double to right-center to give Charlotte a 6-3 advantage. Errigo then struck out Bray but couldn't get past Shayne Moody who singled to knock in Shaylor and give the 49ers a 7-3 lead.

Parks added a RBI double in the fourth to make it to 8-3 as the 49ers coasted to the series sweep and their 12th straight victory at home. Smith earned the win for Charlotte, allowing an earned run and five hits in 5.0 innings. Junior Michael Tansey (Valley Stream, N.Y.) led the SBU offense, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Seawolves return to action on Tuesday, traveling to take on the Virginia Cavaliers. Game time is set for 4 p.m.