George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Charlotte
Charlotte Exposes GW Bullpen, Defeats Colonials 11-5
3/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
After the 49ers fought back to tie the game, 4-4, after six innings, GW scored a run and recaptured the lead, 5-4, in the top of the seventh with the help of two Charlotte errors.
But Charlotte tied it again in the bottom half of the seventh inning and broke the game wide open in the eighth with a six-run frame.
The Colonials took a 1-0 first inning lead on an RBI groundout from third baseman Tom Shanley (Stanfordville, NY / Pine Plains). GW add three more in the third inning, with two runs coming from second baseman Mickey Shupin's (Sea Girt, NJ / Wall) first career home run.
The 49ers trimmed GW's lead to 4-2 in the third inning with a two-out rally. Left fielder O'Brien Taylor laced an RBI double down the left field line and shortstop Mike Ambrose, the next batter, drove Taylor home with a base hit.
Overall in the game, Taylor produced two two-run doubles and shortstop Mike Ambrose went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Charlotte brought the score to 4-3 two innings later when the lead off batter reached on an error and came around to score on a groundout. It then tied the game 4-4 in the sixth when second baseman Cory Lane walked to start the inning and reach third base on two balks and scored on a single from catcher Kris Rochelle.
GW recaptured the lead in the seventh inning with the help of two Charlotte errors. Centerfielder Matt Owens (Fayetteville, GA / Fayette County) reached first base on an errant throw, moved to second on an infield hit and scored on another wild throw to give the Colonials a 5-4 advantage.
Lane connected on a two-out opposite field home run (3) to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the eighth, the 49ers used four hits, three walks and one error to score six times and take the game, 11-5.
RHP Derrik Lutz (Grantville, PA / Lower Dauphin) returned to GW's starting rotation and threw 5.0 solid innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out three.
The Colonials' bullpen pitched the final three innings and struggled, giving up six hits, walking five and was responsible for eight Charlotte runs - although only four were earned.
Freshman RHP Pat Lehamn (0-2) took the loss.
RHP Keith Moreland started and lasted just 2.2 innings for the 49ers, giving up three earned runs on four hits. LHP Kyle Pfirrman, Friday's winning pitcher, came on in the third inning and allowed just one hit in 4.0 innings.
RHP Zach Rosenbaum (2-1) took over for Charlotte with one out in the seventh inning and did not allow a run to earn the win.
The third and final game of the series is set for Sunday at high noon.
The Colonials will send LHP Dan Pfau (1-3, 4.81 ERA) to the mound.
- GW -
