March 15, 2002

Final Stats

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Sophomore leftfielder Bryan Stelmack went 3-for-3 with a walk and a runs scored, but it was not enough as the Tulane University baseball team dropped the 2002 Conference USA opener to Charlotte 5-3 Friday evening at Turchin Stadium.

With the score knotted at 3-3 after seven and normally reliable Joey Charron on the hill to start the eight, Charlotte tallied four singles off the sophomore reliever, including RBI singles by Brad Lamm and Dusty Stepp to plate Thomas Bowker and George Sandel, respectively, to account for the final score.

The Green Wave had chances to score throughout the game, but stranded nine runners on base, including three in scoring position, and had another gunned down at the plate. With the win, Charlotte improved to 10-8 on the year and 1-0 in league play. Tulane, meanwhile, dropped 12-7 overall and 0-1 in C-USA action.

Tulane got on the board first in the second when Stelmack walked, advanced to third on a double by catcher Scott Madden, and scored on a wild pitch by 49er starter Matt Johnson. The Green Wave could have added another run in the frame, but on Madden's double to right center, Gerald Clark was thrown out at the plate after getting a late jump on the base path.

Charlotte took the lead in the fourth on a two-run homer by Brad Erwin, but the Green Wave came back in the home half of the frame on a solo shot by Clark to tie it up at 2-2. The 49ers scored again in the top of the fifth when Brian Bowman hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a balk by Tulane starter Nick Bourgeois, and scored on an RBI single by Sandel.

Tulane once again had an answer, though, as designated hitter Chris Taylor hit a leadoff double in the seventh, went to third on a James Jurries' single and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Michael Aubrey.

Trailing 5-3 heading to the bottom of the eighth, Stelmack got a leadoff single to keep the Green Wave hopes alive, but Charlotte reliever Brian York retired the next six batters in order to close the door.

York earned the win for Charlotte, giving up one run on five hits while striking out three in 4.2 innings of work. Charron was saddled with the loss to fall to 3-2, and Bourgeois drew a no decision after giving up three runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings on the hill.

The Green Wave returns to action on Saturday when Tulane and Charlotte play game two of the three-game conference series at 2 p.m. at Turchin Stadium.