Brett Lang, Justin Seager and Tyler Barnette all contributed in the 6-5 win over the Richmond Spiders in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. Photo by Chris Crews
The No. 2 seed Charlotte 49ers (35-21) secured a spot in the next round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
Charlotte fans rocked their green and white inside Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium to watch the 49ers slide past the No. 7 seed Richmond Spiders (30-23) in a 6-5 victory.
After a scoreless first inning, the Spiders got up to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the second. In the bottom half of the inning with Justin Seager on first and only one out, Tony Montalbano knocked one to the outfield and picked up a double.
Brett Lang and Derek Gallello both struck out giving Charlotte a pair of outs to close the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the fourth, Montalbano ripped one out to left field and picked up his second double of the game.
After missing eight games due to an injury, Lang rocked the ball deep left, recorded a double and drove Montalbano home to tie the game 1-1.
After Chris Bell was walked and Jacob Mayers safely made it to first base due to an overthrown ball, Adam Forrer singled and drove Bell home to give Richmond their second run of the game.
Richmond’s Tyler Beckwith drove one out to right field, sending Mayer home and giving the Spiders a two-run lead over the 49ers in the top of the fifth.
With Michael Green on second and JJ Elseser on third, Brad Elwood knocked a sacrifice fly into right field allowing Elseser to get home and pick up a run.
Charlotte pitcher Sean Geoghegan relieved Tyler Barnette in the top of the sixth. Geoghegan only faced one batter before Wes Hatley was brought in for the 49ers.
With bases loaded and two outs, Adam Forrer was struck out by Hatley. Between the three Charlotte pitchers in the top half of the sixth, Richmond was unable to pick up any runs. The 49ers went three up, three down in the bottom of the sixth against Richmond’s Zak Sterling.
Hatley struck out Nick Poulos and Charlotte picked up a crucial double play in the top of the seventh.
With Basen on second and two outs, Brad Elwood ripped off a double and sent Basen home to give the 49ers a 4-3 lead
Seager fired one far enough down the first base line to land on second and send Elwood home, picking up another run for the 49ers. Montalbano picked up his first RBI of the game, but was tagged out between first and second. The 49ers picked up four runs in the seventh inning to take a 6-3 lead over the Spiders.
Although the Spiders rallied back in the top of the ninth to earn two runs and Ryan Mas came in to relieve Hatley after a weird spill trying to throw a runner out at first, Charlotte defeated the Richmond Spiders 6-5.
Going into Wednesday’s game, head coach Loren Hibbs knew defeating Richmond would not be easy.
“Sometimes the match ups are more important than anything else,” said Hibbs.
“It just wasn’t a good match up for us. We’ve just got to keep hanging in there. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll get to the point where we can relax and be able to play.”
Justin Seager attributed confidence to being one of the key components to the four runs in the seventh inning.
“It sparked something in us. I mean, when one guy gets going, the next guy gets going. That gives a little more confidence at bat, and that’s all hitting is, is confidence,” said Seager.
If confidence is what batting is all about, the 49ers will need it on Thursday when they face the No. 3 seed Rhode Island (35-22) at 1:30 p.m.