Charlotte Beats Campbell 13-2; Sweeps Season Series from Camels

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Charlotte's eight-run second inning and solid effort from starting pitcher Zach Rosenbaum was too much too overcome for Campbell, as the 49ers (7-2) defeated the Camels (1-7) 13-2, sweeping the weekend and four-game season series Saturday afternoon at Fieldcrest-Cannon Stadium.

Chris England (0-2) took the loss for the Camels, lasting only 1.2 innings. Rosenbaum (1-0) picked up his first win of the season in only his second career start. The sophomore hurled five shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out three in picking up his lone career victory in a starting role.

Charlotte built an early cushion in the second. Four hits, three hit batsmen and two sacrifice flies gave Charlotte eight runs off Campbell starter Chris England, who did not make it out of the inning. The big blows came early and late, as the 49ers sent 12 men to the plate in their half of the frame.

After a Brad McElroy single to start the inning, Chris Taylor hit what appeared to be a double play ball to third baseman Robb Meng. Meng's throw glanced off second baseman Zach Johnson's glove into right field putting the runners at second and third with no outs. After the error, six straight Niners reached base with Taylor putting an exclamation point on the inning in his second plate appearance of the frame by knocking a three-run double off the right field wall.

The Niners other big blow came in the third. After a one-out Kris Rochelle triple and a walk to the nine-hole hitter Shayne Moody, Cory Lane blasted Blake Herring's offering over the two-tiered wall in right field, expanding the Charlotte lead to 11-0. Charlotte added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to round out its scoring on the afternoon.

The Camels managed single runs in the sixth and eighth innings off the 49er bullpen. With Camels on second and third and two outs, Meng hit a hard ground ball that was mishandled by third baseman Aaron Bray, allowing John Watlington to score for CU's first run. In the eighth, Brandon Scott reached on an infield single with two outs and was knocked in by Ryan Hamme, who drilled his second double of the day to the right-center gap, to plate the Camels' final run.

Hamme led the Camel offense, going 2-4 with two doubles on the afternoon, notching his third multi-hit effort of the year. Blake Lowry and Brandon York both recorded singles for their first collegiate hits in pinch-hit appearances in the ninth inning. The Camels out-hit the 49ers 9-8, but two double plays and an inability to string their hits together limited the Camels' opportunities.

Charlotte outscored the Camels 37-9 in the teams' four meetings this season. 10 of the 49er runs were unearned, via seven CU errors. 49ers pitchers also held a significant edge in the strikeout department, holding 47-17 edge over Campbell pitchers.

Charlotte will travel to Winston-Salem to face Wake Forest on Tuesday, while Campbell heads south to face The Citadel. First pitch for the Camels and Bulldogs is set for 3:00 on Tuesday.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Blake Herring: C; 6' 0"; Junior

#38 Chris England: RHP; 6' 1"; Senior

#14 Ryan Hamme: 1B/RHP; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#4 Zach Johnson: 2B; 6' 1"; Freshman

#11 Robb Meng: 3B; 6' 0"; Junior

#25 John Watlington: INF; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#23 Brandon York: C; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#25 Blake Herring
: 6' 0"; Junior
: C

#38 Chris England
: 6' 1"; Senior
: RHP

#14 Ryan Hamme
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: 1B/RHP

#4 Zach Johnson
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: 2B

#11 Robb Meng
: 6' 0"; Junior
: 3B

#25 John Watlington
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: INF

#23 Brandon York
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: C