NORFOLK, VA—Mike Perez (Fairfax Station, VA.) hit a two-run homer in the seventh and Taylor Ostrich (Carroll, IA.) belted a grandslam in the ninth, but the Monarchs (14-13/3-7) rally fell short as the Charlotte 49ers (11-13/5-8) won the Conference-USA series opener Friday night, 9-7 at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
Charlotte took a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning when freshman Zach Rutherford (Chesapeake, VA.) doubled with one out and came home on a Jason McMurray (Des Moines, IA.) single. Sophomore Nick Walker (Virginia Beach, VA.) drew a walk, followed by a single from junior thirdbaseman PJ Higgins (Wallingford, CT.) to load the bases. After a strikeout, Ostrich slammed his bases loaded homer over the centerfield fence to make it 9-7, but reliever Micah Wells got the next out to end the game.
The Monarchs first run came in the second when senior catcher Mike Perez homered to left with fellow senior Josh Eldridge (Lorton,VA.) aboard. Ostrich along with Zach Rutherford and Jason McMurray each had two hits on the night.
Charlotte lefthanded starting pitcher Sean Geoghegan pitched eight innings allowing two runs on five hits for his fourth win of the season.
The 49ers were led by Brett Netzer who doubled home three runs in the fourth to give Charlotte an early 3-0 lead. Logan Sherer and T.J. Nichting also had three hits each in the game as Charlotte hitters pounded out 16 hits on the night. Zach Jarrett hit his team leading fifth homer of the season, a solo shot in the eighth inning for the 49ers.
The second game of the series is Saturday at 3 p.m.
CHA 000 310 140=9-16-0
ODU 000 000 205=7-9-2
CHA: Geoghegan, Wells (9) and Daddio, Raley(9)
ODU: Tomchick, Bishop (6), Koenig(7) and Perez
WP: Geoghegan(4-2) LP: Tomchick (3-3)
HR: ODU- Ostrich(2), Perez(3);CHA – Jarrett(5)