Charlotte completes sweep of La. Tech

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte scored two runs in fourth inning after three consecutive walks to break a tie and help the 49ers to a 5-3 victory over Louisiana Tech, which clinched a series sweep for the Niners Sunday at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.

Tech (10-13, 1-7 C-USA) starting pitcher Laetten Galbraith (2-4) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs – four earned – on six hits in 3 1-3 innings on the mound. Galbraith struck out one, but walked three before Adam Atkins came on in relief and held Charlotte (10-12, 4-8 C-USA) scoreless on two hits through the final 4.2 innings.

Charlotte's Josh Maciejewski (2-2) started for the Niners and held Tech to three runs – two earned – on six hits in 5 1-3 innings. First baseman Logan Sherer came on to pitch in the ninth and faced the minimum to earn his fifth save of the season.

For the third straight game, Charlotte plated a run in the first inning after Zach Jarrett singled and came around to score on an RBI triple by right fielder Brad Elwood to make it a 1-0 lead for the 49ers.

Tech responded in the third inning when J.D. Perry reached on a fielder's choice and reached second on a single through the right side by Taylor Love. Brent Diaz and Taylor Nichols then came through for the Bulldogs with back-to-back RBI singles to left field to put Tech ahead of Charlotte, 2-1.

However, the one-run lead was short-lived for the Bulldogs as Charlotte's Danny Raley reached first on an error by Chandler Hall in the bottom of the third, followed by Jarrett's second two-run home run of the weekend to put the 49ers up, 3-2, after three innings of play.

The back and forth continued in the fourth when Tech knotted the game at 3-3 with a two-out rally after Bryce Stark doubled to left, followed by an RBI single by Chandler Hall to score Stark from second.

An infield single by Hunter Jones, followed by three straight walks by Galbraith, in the bottom half of the fourth led to Charlotte scoring two runs to take a 5-3 lead over Tech with five innings to play.

Hall led the Bulldogs at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI, while Nichols and Diaz each had one hit and an RBI as well. Tech totaled six hits as a team and stranded six over the course of nine innings.

Charlotte center fielder, Jarrett, was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored to help lead the Niners to a victory.

Tech returns to action Tuesday as the Bulldogs make the short trip to Grambling to face the Tigers at 6 p.m. at Wilbert Ellis Field.