Charlotte Surges Past North Florida and Miami (Ohio) in First Day of 49er Invitational
March 8, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Battling gusty winds and chilly temperatures, the Charlotte 49ers (10-11) swept the opening day of the 49er Invitational Saturday afternoon, trumping North Florida 6-5 and downing Miami (Ohio) 10-8. Junior catcher Jaime West led the 49ers offensively with four RBI on three hits on the day, including a bomb to center field in the first game, while sophomore Serena Smith, moving into shortstop for an under-the-weather junior Cee Brooks, collected three RBI.
Charlotte took advantage of the wind blowing out to left and center field in the first game, collecting seven hits as freshman pitcher Katy Hackett squashed a late North Florida rally in the top of the seventh, striking out Osprey Stephanie Luciani with bases loaded to take the win.
The 49ers grabbed a 2-0 lead early off North Florida starter Tori Ahern as freshman designated player Tenaya Tucker singled up the left in the first inning before a Smith sacrifice fly up the middle scored junior second baseman Sarah Malene in the third. North Florida countered, though, with a two-run homer to center field to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth. The 49ers answered with two runs later in the inning off a West single and sacrifice by freshman Whitney Williams, but were once again answered with another two-run homer. Charlotte clenched an unearned run in the fifth on a Tucker ground out, which joined West's homer in the bottom of the sixth to round out the 49er offensive attack to outlast a one-run seventh inning from North Florida.
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Charlotte and Miami (Ohio) similarly squared off in the second contest, playing a cat-and-mouse game until a five-run fifth inning, anchored by two-RBI doubles from Williams to center field and Malene through the left side, pushed the 49ers ahead for good. Hackett allowed just six hits, along with three strikeouts, in her six innings pitched to take the win. Junior third baseman Jenny Rumbles, second at bat for Charlotte, opened scoring in the top of the first with a sacrifice bunt, bringing home Malene after her double to center field. Rumbles would score later in the inning off a Tucker reach on an infield error, but Miami would respond with two runs of their own in the first before pouring on four runs in the second. Charlotte came back in the third as West singled, advancing to second on the throw and subsequently scoring sophomore utility Keri Palma and Smith, but once again, Miami secured themselves with two runs of their own.
The 49ers would surge ahead in the fifth, though, with doubles from Williams and Malene and a Smith single to center field, collectively brining in five runs. A final run off a Smith sacrifice fly to center field to score Malene would seal the victory for Charlotte.
The 49ers return to action for the final day of the round-robin tournament tomorrow, squaring off against North Florida at 1 p.m. before taking on Miami (Ohio) at 3 p.m.
