May 2, 2009

CHARLOTTE, NC - Rob Lyerly hit a two-out two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to lift Charlotte to a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over La Salle Baseball at Hayes Stadium in Atlantic 10 Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

The Explorers raced out to a five-run lead, but the 49ers - again aided by the long ball - were able to chip away at the lead and eventually get the game-winner in the ninth.

Jumping on 49er starter Patrick Lawson, the Explorers put up five first-inning runs as six of their first seven batters reached base and they chased Lawson after recording just one out.

Tony Negrin singled, stole second, Justin Handler drew a walk and John Malloy singled home the first run of the afternoon. TJ Chism followed with a two-RBI double down the left-field line and moved to third on Marc Schoch's single.

Chism would score on a wild pitch as Schoch moved to second and then scored two batters later on a one-out single by Jeff Flax, which put the Explorers up 5-0.

Charlotte (28-16, 12-8 A-10), who had hit three home runs in the first game of the series, responded with a three-run long ball in the third off the bat of Zane Williams.

Negrin pushed the La Salle lead back to three, 6-3, in the fourth with a two-out RBI single to short that scored Zack Feierstein, who hit a one-out double to left center.

The 49ers pulled back to within a pair in the bottom of the frame on a Corey Shaylor RBI single and then loaded the bases with two out. This time La Salle starter Kevin Fuqua was able to retire Williams with a called third strike.

Fuqua would go on to pitch a perfect fifth and sixth before the 49ers put runners on first and second with one out in the seventh. However, he got Lyerly to fly out to left and struck out Ryan Rivers to end the threat. Those two were a combined 0-for-8 in the contest to that point.

Aaron Bray led off the eighth inning with a triple to right center, which ended Fuqua's day and La Salle called in Dennis Burge. He walked the first batter he faced, but got pinch hitter Shane Brown to hit into a double play, scoring Bray to pull the 49ers to within one, 6-5.

In the ninth, Alan Parks hit a one-out single into left field, before Burge got Williams to strike out swinging for the second out of the frame. Lyerly then hit the first pitch he saw over the left-center field fence to give Charlotte the victory.

The 49ers pen combined for 8.2 innings of relief and held La Salle to just three hits, three walks, and one run to help the team in the comeback effort. Kelly McLain (6-2) registered the win, while Burge (2-1) took the loss.

La Salle (17-24, 6-13 A-10) will conclude its three-game A-10 series with the 49ers on Sunday with first pitch slated to 12 PM.