Wake Forest University
Duke
Deacons Begin ACC Play With Win Over Duke
3/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 9, 2001
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The 22nd-ranked Wake Forest baseball team won its ACC opener on Friday afternoon, a 5-4 decision over Duke at Hooks Stadium. The win marks the tenth straight victory at Hooks Stadium this season.
Senior centerfielder Cory Sullivan was the offensive star of the game going three-for-four with two runs. Freshman Josh Hansen had two RBI. Freshman Adam Hanson earned the win in relief of starter Kyle Sleeth. Hanson threw three shutout innings before handing the ball to Dave Bush in the eighth. Bush did not allow a hit in his two innings to get his conference's leading fifth save.
Wake Forest trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Deacons rattled off five straight hits to spark a comeback. With one out, Jamie D'Antona laced a double down the left field line. Corey Slavik followed with a single to center, advancing D'Antona to third. Stephen Ghutzman singled to right to score D'Antona. Carlos Brackley slammed a pinch-hit double into the gap in right-center. After a pitching change, Jamie Athas singled to left to bring in Ghutzman to cap the scoring.
Duke mounted a late rally in the eighth inning and had runners on the corners with no one out. Bush got J.D. Alleva to ground into a double play and the runner held at third. On the following play, Wes Gooder rolled a ball that appeared destined for center field but second baseman Nick Blue made the stop and fired to first base in time to get the third out of the inning. In the ninth, Bush struck out the side.
"It was another ugly win for us today but we'll always take a W, especially in an ACC game," head coach George Greer said. "Duke did a great job getting out on top early but I was pleased with our bullpen. Adam Hanson and Dave Bush pitched five innings and didn't give up a run. When our relievers perform that well, we're going to be successful."
With the win, Wake Forest improves to 12-2 overall and stays undefeated at home. Duke slides to 7-10 on the year. The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon at Hooks Stadium at 1:30 p.m. Sophomore Ben Clayton is scheduled to take the hill for the Deacons.
Duke 111 010 000 - 4 11 0Wake Forest 101 003 00X - 5 12 3
