Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Maryland
Furious Deacon Rally Falls Short Against Terrapins
4/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 25, 2004
Winston-Salem, N.C. - Wake Forest scored the game's final nine runs and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning but Maryland escaped Hooks Stadium with a 13-11 victory on Sunday afternoon. Today's game broke the Deacons' nine-game winning streak against the Terrapins.
The game resembled the contests on Friday and Saturday when Wake Forest jumped out to big leads only to see Maryland make it interesting in game's the latter stages. Today, however, the tables were turned as the Terrapins amassed a 13-2 lead after six innings.
Wake Forest sent 11 hitters to the plate in the seventh inning, scoring six runs. Those runs started coming home with a two-run triple by J.B. Tucker. But the Deacons left two runners in scoring position.
In the eighth, Wake Forest continued to creep closer, getting a solo home run from Brad Scioletti. But once again, the Deacons ended the inning by stranding two runners on base.
In the ninth inning, Wake Forest scored two more runs thanks to Steve LeFaivre's ninth home run of the season. After a one-out single by Scioletti, Tucker came to the plate as one of the team's hottest hitters. The Deacon catcher was 7-for-14 to that point on the weekend with 10 RBI. He faced Maryland's Chris Clem for the second time this weekend. On Friday, Tucker blasted a three-run homer. But this time, Clem won the battle, by coaxing Tucker in to a game-ending double play to earn his first save.
Maryland scored four runs off Wake Forest starter Danny Mackey, who took the loss to fall to 0-2. Deacon relievers Sean Souders and Josh Ellis were no more effective as the Terrapins extended their lead to 11.
The Wake Forest batters were kept off balance by Maryland starter Kevin Hart. Hart earned the victory, striking out 10 Deacon hitters through six innings. The only earned run was a leadoff home run by Blue in the first inning. At one point, Hart got six straight outs via the strikeout.
Hart became the first pitcher to strikeout 10 Demon Deacons in one game since March 2001 when Blair Varnes of Florida State fanned 13 Wake Forest batters in Tallahassee.
Blue led the Deacons with a 4-for-6 performance, his first home run of the season, a double, two runs scored and three RBI. Matt Antonelli, Brad Scioletti and Matt Miller each had three hits for Wake Forest.
Daniel Davidson was excellent in relief, giving the Deacons an opportunity to win the game late. He threw three innings of scoreless, no-hit relief with four strikeouts.
Wake Forest falls to 15-24 overall, 4-14 in the ACC. Maryland improved to 18-24 overall, 3-15 in the league. The Demon Deacons return to action on Tuesday at home against VCU. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
