Charlotte sweeps doubleheader with 5-2 victory over Saint Peter’s

Head coach Loren Hibbs and the 49ers swept a doubleheader against Saint Peter's Saturday at Hayes Stadium. (Photo by Chris Crews)

Strong pitching propelled Charlotte (3-0 overall) to a doubleheader sweep of the Saint Peter’s Peacocks with a 5-2 win at Hayes Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Peacocks posted the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning due in thanks to two errors by the 49ers defense.

Charlotte center fielder Shane Brown answered the Saint Peter’s run with a deep triple to left field. Catcher Miguel Rodriguez would drive in Brown two batters later with his second “seeing eye” single through the right side of the infield. Freshman second baseman Brad Elwood plated Tony Montalbano with a sacrifice fly to right field for his first career RBI giving Charlotte a 2-1 lead after four innings.

In the bottom of the fifth freshman outfielder Leland Clemmons belted the first home run of his collegiate career; a solo shot that gave the Niners a 3-1 lead.

“Right from the jump I knew it was out,” Clemmons said. “I just watched it and jogged around the bases.”

Clemmons day was not done. In the sixth Clemmons blasted a double off the left field wall that plated Elwood for the Niners second run of the inning. However, Saint Peter’s appealed Clemmons touching first base and the umpire ruled that he missed the base on his way to second and called him out to end the inning.

Confusion quickly set in as to if the run would still count. The umpire upheld the run but Clemmons was not credited with a base hit. The Niners led 5-1 after six innings.

Charlotte starter Corey Roberts left the game after rendering four hits, one unearned run and striking out two in seven innings.

Senior pitcher Tyler Pilkington took the mound in the eighth and gave up one unearned run in two-thirds of an inning before pitching coach Brandon Hall turned the game over to sophomore Ryan Mas with the bases loaded. Mas needed just one pitch to get the final out of the inning.

Charlotte junior John Hamilton came on in the ninth and secured the 5-2 victory for the 49ers.

Clemmons went two for four, including a home run and with two RBI’s to lead the Charlotte attack. Rodriguez and Shane Basen each added two hits.

The final game of the four-game series is set for Sunday, Feb. 19 at noon.