University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Charlotte
Cafanga Fires Nine-Inning Shutout, But No. 25 Charlotte Wins 1-0 In Extras
05/07/2011 | Baseball
May 7, 2011
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - No. 25 Charlotte loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning and scored the winning run on a wild pitch to beat Richmond, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Hayes Stadium. Senior Anthony Cafagna fired a three-hit shutout over nine innings for the Spiders.
Cafagna and Charlotte starter Joe Yermal were locked in a scoreless pitchers duel over the first nine innings as the Spiders stretched their shutout streak to 21-consecutive innings after winning Friday's game 3-0.
But the 49ers walked the bases loaded off freshman reliever Andrew Brockett and senior Billy Barber came in to face Shane Basen with two outs. Barber fired a pitch wide of the plate, catcher Chris Cowell pounced on it at the backstop and fired to a covering Barber, who had the ball pop in and out of his glove that allowed Shane Brown to slide in safely as the winning run.
The 49ers (35-11, 14-6) were limited to just the three singles allowed by Cafagna in his best career outing as a Spider. Cafana did not factor in the decision after firing a three-hit shutout over nine innings with one walk and four strikeouts.
Richmond (23-20-2, 10-7), which outhit Charlotte 5-3, threatened with runners on base in eight of the 10 innings, including the 10th when Phil Ruzbarsky led off the frame with a walk and was left stranded at second base.
Junior CF Matt Zink finished two-for-four, while Ruzbarsky reached base three times with a single and two walks.
Brockett was on the hook for the loss (1-4), while 49er reliever John Hamilton kept the Spiders at bay over two hitless innings to pick up the win (2-2). Yermal went eight innings with five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Richmond slipped to 5-7 this season in one-run games and 1-4-2 in extra-inning affairs.
The rubber-match of the three-game series is set for Sunday at 12 p.m.
