May 30, 2008

Raleigh, N.C. - Despite three home runs, Charlotte fell to South Carolina, 15-8, at Doak Field and Dail Park in Raleigh, N.C. at the NCAA Regionals Friday afternoon. Charlotte trailed 9-0 after five innings and closed the gap to 10-7 before giving up five runs in the eighth. The Niners will play Saturday at 2 p.m.

"We got off to a really rocky start and showed our youth and immaturity, but I am proud of our guys to come back and give ourselves a chance," said Charlotte coach Loren Hibbs.

Charlotte (43-15) scored four runs in the sixth, two of them on an Alan Parks home run to left field. The Niners then answered the call again with a three-run home run by Aaron Bray in the seventh to cut the lead to three. Charlotte got the leadoff runner aboard in the eighth, by a lineout double play ended the threat. First baseman Rob Lyerly hit a solo home run to left in the ninth for the game's final score.

"It's tough to play uphill against a team like that," said Hibbs. "We just didn't have enough gas in the tank."

Charlotte starter Joe Yermal allowed six runs in the first inning and one-third and took the loss to fall to 8-2 on the year. Gamecocks starter and redshirt freshman Sam Dyson got his first postseason win after giving up seven runs in 6.2 innings. He is now 8-0 on the season, pushing SC to 39-21 overall.

"South Carolina is a different team than the one we saw in March," said Hibbs. "Coach Tanner has put some guys in there that play faster and it's working for them."

The Niners had 14 hits, including the three homers. Parks's blast was his third, Bray's roundtripper was his fourth and Lyerly's blast was his 15th of the season. The game marked the return of Brad McElroy to the line-up. The senior, who had missed the last 12 games due to an ankle injury, finished 3-for-3, with three singles and two walks in the contest.

Charlotte will await tonight's result to learn its opponent in the 2:00pm. Elimination Game on Saturday afternoon. N.C. State and James Madison play Friday night to determine who appears in that contest.