Here is my blowout of the day for April 7th. Charlotte absolutely destroyed North Carolina A&T on Tuesday by the tune of 31-1. NC A&T walked 12 batters and committed nine errors to contribute to the big loss. The full press release is below.
Charlotte, N.C. – North Carolina A&T walked 12 batters and committed nine errors in the field, while the Charlotte 49ers stole seven bases en route a 31-1 home baseball victory Tuesday night at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium. It was the largest margin of victory ever for a Charlotte team, and was one run shy of the school record for runs in a game. The 49ers improve to 17-12 on the season, dropping the Aggies to 7-21.
Charlotte’s first three batters of the game walked, which later led to two runs on a sacrifice fly and back-to-back infield singles. The Niners scored six in the first inning on just two hits and four Aggies errors.
The Niners batted around in three different innings and third baseman Aaron Bray (Charlotte, N.C. / Independence HS) came to the plate eight times in the contest.
Sophomore designated hitter and relief pitcher Ryan Rivers (Baltimore, Md. / Eastern Technical HS) hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season and drove in a career-high seven RBI in the contest, just one shy of the school record. His homer was followed by a two-RBI double, both in the sixth inning, as part of his day. He is the first Niner to have two extra-base hits in the same inning since Chris Taylor on February 23, 2008, on opening weekend versus Manhattan.
The 31 runs was also one below the school record of 32, scored against Appalachian State on March 9, 1995. Those are the only two games in program history with Charlotte scoring 30 or more runs.
Four Niners had four hits, including Bray, Rivers, left fielder Shane Brown (Davidson, N.C. / North Mecklenburg HS) and catcher Zane Williams (Claremore, Okla.). Williams had four RBI and scored a game-high five runs. Bray drove in three RBI, while he and Brown each scored four times.
Freshman first baseman Miguel Rodriguez (Cape Coral, Fla.) hit a pinch hit three-run homer in the seventh inning. It was the first career blast for Rodriguez, and the first pinch hit homer since Michael Gyoerkoe (Cary, N.C. / Green Hope HS) accomplished the feat in the season opener at No. 19 Clemson on February 20.
Rodriguez and redshirt sophomore Cory Tilton (Cary, N.C. / Green Hope HS) both drove in three runs on one hit. Tilton hit a two-run pinch-hit double in the sixth inning and drove in another run on a sacrifice fly to center in the seventh.
Seven different Aggies had one hit each, with the lone RBI going to infielder Eric Chiz on a sacrifice fly in the ninth to avoid the shutout.
Keith Moreland got his first win of the season (1-0). He lasted five innings and scattered five hits with no walks in that span, striking out three on 53 pitches.
Aggies starter Nick Rogers took the loss (1-2). He allowed 12 runs in 3.2 innings on nine hits and five walks, with three strikeouts. Only five of the runs charges to him were earned.
Charlotte begins their second home Atlantic 10 Conference series Friday night, when the Niners host George Washington. Game time Friday night is set for 6 p.m.
