Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Cincinnati (completion of 2/25 game)
Demon Deacons Slip Past Cincinnati, 10-9, In 12 Innings
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest senior catcher J.B. Tucker laced a one-out, two-run single down the left field line in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Demon Deacons a thrilling 10-9 victory over Cincinnati in a game that was resumed after being suspended due to darkness Friday evening. The Deacs improve to 3-6 on the season, while the Bearcats fall to 3-4.
With the game tied, 8-8, after 11 innings, Cincinnati scored a go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning oFf Wake Forest reliever Sean Souders.
The Deacs would rally in the bottom half of the 12th inning. Sophomore Brian Shust led off the inning after being hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch moved Shust into scoring position, freshman second basemen Andy Goff and sophomore third basemen Matt Antonelli followed with a back-to-back walks to load the bases and set the stage for Tucker.
The Bearcats appeared to have the game in hand in the top of the 11th, when Mark Haske raced home from second on a fielding error by Wake Forest shortstop Ben Ingold. But the Deacons rallied in the bottom of the frame, getting an RBI single by senior center fielder Matt Miller to stay alive.
Cincinnati got off to a hot start, jumping to a 7-0 lead after three innings of play. Jon DeLuca, the reigning Conference USA Hitter of the Week, put the Bearcats on the scoreboard in the first with an RBI double to left that plated Mark Haske. UC took advantage of a Wake Forest error in the second, pouring on three more runs, two coming off the bat of Haske on a single to center.
In the third, the Bearcats continued their assault as Brian Szarmach came up with his first career homer, a two-run shot to right center. UC tacked on a seventh run in the fourth when Mark Muscenti scored on a double play.
But after the fourth inning, Morley and Wake Forest relievers Brian Bach and Eric Niesen were nearly unhittable -- allowing UC just one base hit from innings five through nine.
At the plate, the Wake Forest bats came to life as they rattled off seven unanswered runs. The Deacons started the comeback with a four-run outburst in the last of the fourth, kicking off their scoring on a two-run double by Ingold. That brought redshirt sophomore designated hitter Brendan Enick to the dish and he blasted his first career homer to left to draw the Deacs within three runs, 7-4. Wake tacked on another run in the sixth when junior left fielder Casey Sterk ripped an RBI double.
Wake Forest tied the score at 7-7 against the Bearcat bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Andy Goff lined a two-run single to right field against Josh Kay that tied the score.
In the ninth, senior catcher J.B. Tucker led off the inning with a single and moved to third base with just one out, but Kay was able to work out the jam, when he got Miller to foul out.
The 10th inning was a story of missed opportunities for both squads as UC left the bases loaded in its half of the inning, while Wake left a runner on second setting the stage for the drama of the 11th inning.
Cincinnati starting pitcher Tony Maynard was solid on the mound for the Bearcats, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits, with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings.
Wake Forest starting pitcher Tim Morley did not enter into the decision. The senior went 6.0 innings and allowed four earned runs on eight hits. The lefty did strikeout six, but walked a season-high four.
The Demon Deacon bullpen was tremendous. The trio of Bach, Niesen and Kyle Young tossed 5.0 innings and did not allow a single earned run. They not only allowed a pair of hits, but the trio struckout seven in all.
Enick led the Deacs on the afternoon. The designated hitter was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and his first career home run. Enick drilled a two-run bomb to left field in the Demon Deacons four-run fourth inning. Enick was merely a triple from the cycle. With three hits on Tuesday against Davidson and four more against Cincinnati, Enick has recorded hits in his last seven official at-bats (Enick also had a walk, hit by pitch and sacrifice fly in the last two games).
Tucker went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI. Souders picked up the victory (1-0) with his one inning of relief.
Wake Forest sophomore Josh Ellis will take the mound for the Demon Deacons in the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon.
-- WakeForestSports.com --
