Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Charlotte
Deacons Dismantle Charlotte, 9-1
4/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 30, 2003
Charlotte, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team went into its break for final exams on a high note with a 9-1 win at Charlotte on Wednesday night.
For the second straight night, the Deacon pitching staff was sharp, allowing just one run to the 49ers. Three Wake Forest pitchers gave up just five hits with six strikeouts and no walks. In its last two wins, the Deacons have allowed just three runs in 18 innings on the road at UNC Greensboro and at Charlotte.
Wake Forest freshman starter Kyle Young pitched five solid innings, allowing just one Charlotte run on four hits. Young struck out two and walked none to improve his season record to 5-0.
At the plate, senior first baseman Jeff Ruziecki went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and three runs scored. Junior third baseman Jamie D'Antona was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
Leading 4-1 going into the seventh, the Deacons pulled away with four runs in the top of the seventh - all with two outs. Chris Getz's two-run bases loaded double preceded Ben Ingold's two-run single, making it 8-1.
Seven of Wake Forest's nine runs in the game scored with two outs.
Kirby Wedekind came out of the bullpen and threw three perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts. Adam Hanson pitched the ninth for the Deacons, his 80th career appearance to rank fourth all-time in Wake Forest history. He struck out two.
Jeff Ruziecki opened the scoring in the second inning. He lined the first pitch from Charlotte starter Kory Radford over the right field fence for his seventh home run of the season, equaling his 2003 total. The Deacons extended their lead to 2-0 in the third inning with a two-out RBI single by Ryan Johnson.
Charlotte cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth inning on a home run by Jamie Rusco. The 49ers had runners at second and third with a chance to take the lead in the same inning but Young pitched out of trouble, striking out Brad Lamm to end the threat.
One day after becoming the new Wake Forest career leader in home runs, Jamie D'Antona blasted another, his 20th of the season. It was a solo shot to lead off the sixth inning.
D'Antona becomes the first Deacon to hit 20 or more runs in two different seasons. With 57 home runs, D'Antona is tied for fifth in ACC history with Jason Varitek (Georgia Tech, 1991-94) and Devy Bell (North Carolina, 1984-87).
D'Antona also moved into second place on the Wake Forest career RBI chart. His 77 RBI this season give him 237 for his career, passing Jake Austin. Deacon legend Jon Palmieri (1996-99) holds the RBI record with 241.
As of Monday, D'Antona ranked second nationally in RBI and fourth in the NCAA in home runs.
Ryan Hubbard swiped two bases to add to his ACC leading total which now stands at 32 stolen bases.
The Demon Deacons (28-17) will be idle for the next 10 days while taking a break for final exams. Wake Forest will return to action on Sunday, May 11 at Virginia Commonwealth. The Deacons will close their regular season schedule with a homestand that includes Elon, High Point and three games with ACC rival Clemson.
