Wake Forest University
Tennessee (NCAA Regionals)
Deacons Fall In Regional Final To Volunteers, 6-3
5/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 27, 2001
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Playing its fifth game in three days, Wake Forest ran out of gas and into a red-hot pitcher here Sunday in a 6-3 loss to host and nationally-ranked Tennessee in the finals of the NCAA sub-regional.
The Demon Deacons, who conclude the season 44-18 -- the second-most single-season wins in school history -- couldn't muster enough offensive damage against Tennessee freshman right-hander Patrick Hicklen.
Hicklen held the Deacons, who had scored 28 runs in their previous two games combined, to just three runs on nine base hits while tossing a complete game. Wake Forest out-hit the Volunteers, 9-8.
Tennessee, also 44-18, advances to next week's super regional against the winner of the Wilson (NC) sub-regional. Sites for the super regional will be announced on Monday.
The Volunteers scored three second-inning runs to take an early 4-0 lead. Wake Forest cut into the lead with two fourth-inning runs, but the Volunteers extended the lead to 6-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Wake's third team All-America relief pitcher Dave Bush held the Volunteers in check the rest of the way, but the Deacons could manage just one run after the fourth inning.
Tennessee jumped on Wake Forest starter Brad Comer (1-1), who was making just his third start of the season, right from the start. Comer walked the first two Tennessee batters, then Jeff Christensen's single scored Chris Burke to give the Volunteers a 1-0 lead. Comer settled down to record three straight outs and limit the home team to just one run.
The Volunteers added three runs on two hits in the second inning to make the score 4-0. Brad Comer issued two more bases on balls before bringing in Josh Barlett out of the bullpen. Dan Wilson's bunt single and Ryan Case's single to right, coupled with a Deacon infield error, fueled the Tennessee rally.
Wake Forest got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Corey Slavik reached base on an infield error and with two outs, scored on a Steve LeFaivre double. LeFaivre then scored on a a Matt Price ground ball that was booted by third baseman Kris Bennett, pulling the Deacons to within 4-2.
Tennessee took a 6-2 lead in the bottom half of the fifth. Christensen led off the inning with a solo home run to left centerfield off of Bartlett to make it 5-2. Bennett then singled and went to third base on a botched pickoff move by Bartlett. Javi Herrera's sacrifice fly scored Bennett for the 6-2 lead.
After Justin Parker singled with two outs, Wake turned to its bullpen ace Dave Bush, who made his school record 41st appearance of the season. Bush got Dan Wilson to fly out for the final out of the fifth frame.
Bush shut out Tennessee for three and one-thirds innings.
Wake did not go down without a fight, however. With one out in the ninth inning, Matt Price and Jamie Athas singled to put runners on the corners. Jason Aquilante's single to right field scored Price, pulling Wake to within 6-3. Wake pinch-hitter Carlos Brackley and Cory Sullivan both grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Four Deacon were named to the Regional All-Tournament Team:
Jamie D'Antona, 1B
Nick Blue, 2B
Jamie Athas, SS
Cory Sullivan, OF
