By: Bryce Mitchell
The Charlotte 49ers made program history after winning the Conference USA Baseball Tournament for the first time. Charlotte downed regular season champs, Dallas Baptist, 5-2 on May 28.
Tournament Final
The Niners came in late to the game, trailing Dallas 2-0 until the fourth. Infielder Brandon Stahlman got Charlotte going with a homer to right field. The 49ers then took advantage of wild pitches from Dallas, and catcher Kaden Hopson and first baseman Will Butcher advanced to second and third.
Butcher then tied the game after Knight reached on a fielder’s choice to pitcher. Spencer Nolan gave Hopson the opening for home plate and the lead after singling to right field.
Both teams were runless until the sixth, when Dallas, again, gave wild pitches to Charlotte to take advantage of. The inning gave Charlotte two runs with only one hit.
After a single by Cam Fisher, Nolan took home. Then on another wild pitch, outfielder Blake Jackson stole home, giving the Niners the lead, 5-2.
Charlotte kept Dallas runless through the final innings and allowed only three hits and no errors.
Wyatt Hudepohl pitched the first six innings before handing the mitt over to Andrew Spolyar. After only one inning, Spolyar left the mound and Collin Kramer threw the final two innings and had his first save of the season. Kramer also picked up a strikeout and didn’t allow any baserunners.
The Niners outhit DBU 9-8, and Jake Cunningham was the only 49er to record multiple hits with a pair of singles in the game.
Charlotte’s stellar tournament run had four players named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Infielders Jack Dragum and Brandon Stahlman, outfielder Cam Fisher and pitcher Paxton Thompson were named to the team.
NCAA Tournament ticket punched
After winning their conference title, Charlotte has earned their way into the Clemson Regional for the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
This is the seventh time the team has advanced to a NCAA Regional and the second time in the last three years under head coach Robert Woodard.
The No. 3 seed 49ers are headed to Clemson to face No. 2 seed Tennessee to start the tournament. First pitch is set for Friday, June 2, at 6 p.m.
