Wake Forest University
Central Florida
Wake Forest Edges UCF In 12 Innings
2/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2001
Houston -- - Freshman first baseman Jamie D'Antona broke a tie in the bottom of the 12th inning with a double that drove brought Jamie Athas around to score to give 24th-ranked Wake Forest a 6-5 win over 19th-ranked Central Florida on Friday afternoon at Rice University's Reckling Park.
In the seventh inning, D'Antona gave the Deacons a temporary lead with his first collegiate home run, giving Wake a 5-4 lead but Rice rallied to even the score in the top of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings. D'Antona finished the day 2-of-5 with two runs batted in. D'Antona continues to hit well in the early going, now batting .533 through four games.
"I'm just working hard and getting tips from the seniors and the coaches," D'Antona said. "I'm just following their instructions."
"We really showed some perseverance today. These guys stick together very well," head coach George Greer said. "I think whoever batted last was going to win the game. I think that was the deciding factor. We have to play in situations like this, in atmosphere like this to prepare for the ACC."
Wake Forest opened the scoring in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Senior Cory Sullivan reached on a walk, advanced to second on a balk and to third on a wild pitch from UCF starter Justin Pope. Freshman Josh Hansen's sacrifice fly to left field was deep enough to allow Sullivan to score.
The Deacons added three runs in the bottom of the fifth highlighted by a two-run double by senior Cory Sullivan.
Demon Deacon starter Scott Siemon was sharp early and struck out the side in the first inning. Siemon did not earn a decision in his 6.1 innings. He struck out six batters, the most since March 4 of last year when he fanned seven Georgia hitters.
Wake Forest continues play at the Rice University Coca-Cola Classic at Reckling Park tomorrow to play host team and top-ranked Rice at 1:00 p.m. Freshman Kyle Sleeth (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound for the Demon Deacons.
