Ball State University
2-12
Charlotte
11-3
Baseball Falls At Charlotte, 9-1
March 13, 2011 | Baseball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Ball State baseball team suffered a 9-1 loss at Charlotte Saturday afternoon to even the three-game series at Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium. The Cardinals and 49ers will play in the rubber game of the series Sunday afternoon with first pitch at noon.
Senior left-hander Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail) suffered the loss despite limiting Charlotte to three runs on nine hits through 6.0 innings of work while striking out four batters. Three Cardinal relievers allowed the 49ers to post six runs over the final three innings of the contest.
Charlotte (11-3) right-hander Corey Roberts tossed a complete game four-hitter for the 49ers. Roberts posted nine strikeouts in the victory for Charlotte which is receiving votes in multiple national polls this week.
The 49ers opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Cory Tilton led off with a single and quickly stole second. After a ground ball moved Tilton to third, Shane Basen lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to make it a 1-0 Charlotte lead.
Ball State (2-12) tied the game in the top of the third inning as sophomore Kevin Franchetti (Highland, Ind./Andrean) led off with a single and stole second base to move into scoring position. The Cardinals laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Franchetti to third base where freshman Kenny Mahala (Highland, Ind./Andrean) posted a run-scoring single to tie the game at 1-1.
Charlotte extended the lead to 3-1 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings against Grabner. The 49ers broke the game open in the eighth inning as they played six runs on seven hits against the Cardinals' bullpen. Charlotte posted six straight hits in the inning, including a two-run bases loaded single from Basen.
Ball State and Charlotte wrap up the three-game series Sunday afternoon in the Cardinals' final game of the annual spring break trip. First pitch is set for noon at Hayes Stadium.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roberts, C. (3-0)
L: Grabner, Derek (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Mahala, Kenny 1
SH: Baumet, T.J. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Franchetti, Kevin 1
SB: Franchetti, Kevin 1
CS: Elliott, Cody 1
Batting:
2B: Elseser 1 ; Montalbano 1 ; Rodriguez, M 1
RBI: Tilton, Cory 1 ; Basen, S. 3 ; Montalbano 3 ; Rodriguez, M 1 ; Wilson, J. 1
SH: Shaylor, C. 1
SF: Basen, S. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tilton, Cory 2 ; Elseser 2 ; Basen, S. 1 ; Montalbano 1 ; Gillespie, K 1 ; Shaylor, C. 1 ; Roland, J. 1
SB: Tilton, Cory 1 ; Basen, S. 1 ; Montalbano 1
