Wake Forest University
Liberty
Deacons Fall To Liberty In 13-11 Slugfest
4/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 23, 2001
WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- The 21st-ranked Wake Forest baseball team lost 13-11 to Liberty University on Monday afternoon at Gene Hooks Stadium, just the fourth home loss for the Demon Deacons all year.
Wake Forest (31-13) dug itself a hole early as Liberty posted its 13 runs in the first five innings. At that time, the Deacons trailed 13-5 but chipped away at the lead as relievers Ben Elbe and Dave Bush quieted the Liberty bats. Wake Forest pulled within two runs and had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth but Corey Slavik's fly ball to deep right field was hauled in at the warning track to end the game.
Elbe was impressive in his 3.1 innings of work, the longest outing of his career. He allowed just two hits while striking out a pair of batters. Bush came on in the ninth with a runner on second base and no out but got out of the inning without allowing the run to score.
Jason Aquilante was the offensive start of the game for Wake Forest, going three-for-five with a home run and two RBI. Carlos Brackey was two-for-two after coming on as pinch hitter and has four hits in his last five at-bats. Winston-Salem native Steve LeFaivre drilled his fifth home run of the year in the second inning to tie the game at three.
Wake Forest starter Danny Mackey made his first career start but lasted just 0.1 innings after allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits and two walks. He gave way to junior Ryan Lewis who took the loss for the Deacons to fall to 4-2 on the year. Alex Dooley got the win for Liberty to improve his record to 5-6. Josh Brey was credited with his eighth save of the season.
The Demon Deacons hit the road for a double header at Charlotte on Wednesday. Both games will be seven inning affiars and the festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. Ryan Braun and Josh Bartlett will be the Deacon starters in the Queen City on Wednesday before the team closes the ACC schedule at Maryland this weekend.
