CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 7 seed Charlotte used a pair of 4-run innings and needed 12 innings to defeat No. 2 seed UTSA, 9-5, in the third game of the 2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions on Tuesday afternoon, May 21 at BayCare Ballpark.
It was the eighth game in Championship history to go to extra innings and was the second-longest game by innings, next to a 13-inning contest between East Carolina and UCF in 2023.
With the win, the 49ers (24-32) advance to the winner’s bracket and will face the winner of Tulane and Florida Atlantic on Thursday, May 23, 47 minutes after the East Carolina/Wichita State game at 1 p.m. Eastern. UTSA (32-23) will take on the loser between the Green Wave and the Owls on Wednesday, May 22, 47 minutes after the UAB/Rice game at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Tied 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning, Charlotte struck for four runs on a Dante DeFranco RBI double that was followed by a 3-run home run to right center by Kaden Hopson.
The Roadrunners came back with four in the bottom of the eighth inning on RBI doubles by Isaiah Walker and Alexander Olivo, along with a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly.
UTSA loaded the bases with one out in both the 10
th and 11
th innings, but both times the 49ers got out of the jams. In the top of the 12
th, Thad Ector singled and advanced to second on an error before scoring on an RBI single by Brandon Stahlman. Carson Bayne stepped up and launched a 3-run home run to deep left to give the 49ers a 9-5 lead.
Joseph Taylor (3-4) earned the win, pitching the last two innings without allowing a run. Starter Cole Reynolds allowed one run in 5.1 innings with five strikeouts.
Daniel Garza (4-3) took the loss for UTSA, allowing four runs (three earned) in four innings of relief. Roadrunner starter Braylon Owens gave up one run in five innings with four strikeouts.
2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central
Schedule
Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: No. 4 Wichita State 8, No. 5 UAB 2 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 12, No. 8 Rice 4 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 3: No. 7 Charlotte 9, No. 2 UTSA 5 (12 innings) |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 3 Tulane | 9:55 p.m. | ESPN+
Wednesday, May 22
Game 5: Rice vs. UAB | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: UTSA vs. Loser of Game 4 | 47 minutes after Game 5 | ESPN+
Thursday, May 23
Game 7: Wichita State vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Charlotte vs. Winner of Game 4 | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
Friday, May 24
Game 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 6 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
Saturday, May 25
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+
Sunday, May 26
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS/ESPN+
All times listed are Eastern.