Wake Forest University
Liberty
Demon Deacons Douse Flames, 6-4
2/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2001
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Two runs in the fourth and fifth innings lifted Wake Forest over Liberty, 6-4, at Worthington Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Cory Sullivan doubled to lead off the game and later scored on an RBI single by Steve LeFaivre to give Wake Forest (7-2) the early lead.
Liberty (5-2) responded in the bottom half of the first inning when Keith Butler singled with two outs then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kelly Knouse (Jr., 1B, Tampa, Fla.) then singled down the right field line, scoring Butler from second, knotting the score at one.
Sullivan led off the third inning with a bunt single and later scored from third on an infield groundout by Jamie D'Antona to give the Demon Deacons a 2-1 lead.
Liberty bounced back scoring a run of its own in the bottom of the third when Matt Hagan reached on an error to lead off the inning and scored from third on a sacrifice fly from Larry Wayne York
Ryan Johnson's leadoff triple in the fourth inning sparked a two-run inning for Wake Forest, giving them a 4-2 lead. The Demon Deacons tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning when D'Antona and Corey Slavik led off the inning with two singles and were later scored on an infield out and an RBI single by Jamie Athas to give Wake Forest 6-2 advantage.
The Flames rallied in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on a two-run home run by Trey Miller to draw the Flames to within two runs. But closer Dave Bush silenced the Flames' bats in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to pick up his third save of the season.
Kyle Sleeth (2-1) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings pitched to earn the victory for Wake Forest. Anthony Pennix suffered the loss for the Flames, pitching four innings, allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out three.
Wake Forest will host High Point on February 27 at 2:30 in its next contest.
