Rob Lyerly, Charlotte

May 24, 2008

Boxscore

CAMDEN, N.J - Sophomore Bryan Hamilton tossed 4.1 innings of scoreless relief and Alex Bryant's bunt single in the bottom of the eleventh scored freshman Cory Tilton from first base to give Charlotte its second consecutive title with a dramatic 4-3 (11) win over Xavier on Saturday afternoon at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship at Campbell's Field.

The second-seeded 49ers (43-14), who became the first program since Virginia Tech in 1999-00 to win consecutive A-10 titles, earned the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The field of 64 will be announced on Monday on ESPN2. Charlotte's win also marked the first time the A-10 champion was crowned in an extra-inning contest since 1985, when West Virginia edged Temple, 8-7, in ten innings.

Titlton reached base with one out in the eleventh after being hit by Xavier junior righthander Jordan Conley (2-2). Bryant then laid down a perfect bunt between the pitcher's mound and third base. As Bryant approached first base, XU third baseman John McCambridge's throw sailed over the head of first baseman Zac Richard and down the rightfield line. Titlton raced around third and easily beat the throw home, setting off a wild celebration for the 49ers.

"I was thinking about calling a hit-and-run and our second-slowest position player in [Alex] Bryant putting down a perfect bunt. I was screaming at Bo [third base coach Bo Durkac] to hold our runner and we just play so aggressive and it turned out to be the right move. Just proud of everybody," said Charlotte head coach Loren Hibbs, who has guided the program to four NCAA berths.

"You have to give Xavier a lot of credit. Scott [Googins] does a great job and they really compete."

Charlotte wasted no time getting on the board as senior O'Brien Taylor laid down a bunt single to open the bottom of the first. He then stole second and came around to score on a RBI single by designated hitter Rob Lyerly off Xavier starter Brett Greenwell. The Musketeers tied things at 1-1 apiece in the third as centerfielder Adam Pasono opened the inning with a double off Charlotte righthander B.J. Hagen and scored on junior Steve Brown's RBI single to right. The 49ers answered right back with two runs in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead on a RBI single by catcher Chris Taylor and a run-scoring double by Lyerly, both with two outs.

Xavier scored an unearned run in the fifth and shortstop Jordan Conley scored the tying run in the sixth as he singled with one out, advanced to third on a double by junior Sean Farrell and scored on catcher Billy O'Conner's sacrifice fly. Charlotte threatened in the ninth as third baseman Aaron Bray reached on an error to start the inning and advanced to second when Creevy's pick-off attempt went wide of first baseman Zac Richard. However, Creevy got Tilton to ground out and Conley made an acrobatic over-the-shoulder catch on pinch hitter Mike Perkins' short fly to left and doubled off Bray at second to retire the side.

After Hamilton set down the Musketeers in the tenth, Charlotte mounted a one-out rally. Shortstop Shayne Moody singled and after Lyerly drew a walk, C. Taylor flew out to right for the second out of the inning. Conley then intentionally walked Parks to load the bases but escaped the jam by getting freshman Corey Shaylor to fly out to right on a nice running catch by Farrell.

Hamilton improved to 6-2 on the year in relief of 49ers starter B.J. Hagen, who allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits in 6.2 innings. O'Brien Taylor, Moody and first baseman Alex Burt led Charlotte with two hits apiece, while Lyerly, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 Championship, added a run scored and a RBI.

"We've had some injures and ups and downs but feels great to win it today," said Lyerly, who collected six hits in 11 at-bats with eight RBI in the 49ers' three wins in the Championship.

"We have a great lineup and a fast team. We had a good weekend and hopefully we can keep it going at [NCAA] Regionals."

Pasono went 3-for-5 with two runs scored on the afternoon, while O'Conner and Farrell added two hits apiece for the Musketeers (27-31), who advanced to the finals of the Championship for the first time in program history. The loss overshadowed a brilliant performance by Creevy, who scattered four hits and fanned five over six innings out of the bullpen. "He was unbelievable and the way he pitched coming off one days rest was a senior stepping up when you need it, " said Xavier head coach Scott Googins, who guided the Musketeers to their first regular season crown since winning the A-10 West Division title in 1997.

"It was a great ball game and I thought we were going to get that one and play a second game but that wasn't in the cards for us this year. Really proud of the way the guys played and carried themselves. Our expectation wasn't just to get here but to win the thing."

Joining Lyerly on the 2008 All-Championship team were teammates O'Brien Taylor, Burt and Luke Stahl; Creevy, Conley and Danny Rosenbaum of Xavier; Temple's Mike Mongiardini and Stan Orzechowski; Brett Palanski of Rhode Island; and Duquesne's Derek Mechling and Bill Torre.