Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
North Carolina
Wake Forest Baseball Drops Nightcap Of Doubleheader, 14-5
3/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 26, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina blew open a three-run game with a seven-run seventh inning en route to a 14-5 victory over Wake Forest in the second game of an ACC doubleheader Saturday at Boshamer Stadium. The 11th-ranked Tar Heels (20-5, 5-2 ACC) captured the opener of the twinbill and completed a three-game sweep of the Deacons.
The Deacs had a golden opportunity to cut into the Carolina, 7-4, even more in the top of the seventh inning. Senior J.B. Tucker led off the inning with a walk and senior Ryder Mathias was then hit by a pitch -- his season-leading 12th -- to put runners on first and second with no outs. Tucker and Mathias each advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Redshirt sophomore Brendan Enick then flied out to right field, but as Tucker bluffed his tag home, Mathias continued from second base which resulted into a double play. After senior Matt Miller walked, freshman Andy Goff flew out to end the inning without any damage.
The Demon Deacons were hurt all weekend by their inability to get hits with runners on base or scoring position. Wake Forest was just 10-for-57 (.175) all weekend with runners on base and 4-for-33 (.121) with runners in scoring position.
The base running mistake was huge at the moment, but the Tar Heels made it irrelevant with a seven-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach at 14-4. North Carolina blew the opener of the doubleheader open with a five-run eighth and did the same in the nightcap with a seven-run seventh. The seven runs were a season-high for the Tar Heels in a single inning.
Trailing 7-0, the Demon Deacons began their rally in the fifth and sixth inning. Wake Forest got a pair of runs in the fifth on a Tucker RBI ground out and a RBI double from Mathias.
In the sixth inning, the Deacs again threatened. Wake Forest plated its three run of the game on a fielder's choice RBI from freshman Brett Linnenkohl. Sophomore Matt Antonelli then singled in another run to cut the Carolina lead to 7-4. With runners on the corners and just one out, senior Ben Ingold grounded into a 5-4-3 double play -- the Deacs fifth double play ground out in the twinbill.
The Tar Heels jumped all over Wake Forest starting pitcher Matt Hammond. North Carolina put together five hits, including Matt Spencer's three-run home run, in a six-run outburst to grab a 6-0 lead after one inning.
Hammond (1-5) was charged with the loss. The freshman went 3.2 innings and allowed seven runs, all earned, on eight hits. Hammond struckout three and walked one. Senior Kip Byrum relieved Hammond and worked 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Freshman Eric Niesen then came on and worked 1.0 inning. The southpaw allowed a run on a couple hits with a pair of strikeouts. Senior Brian Bach and junior Kyle Young were touched up for six earned runs on six hits in the seventh inning. Young then tossed a scoreless eighth.
Antonelli, Ingold, Miller and junior Casey Sterk all had two hits for the Demon Deacons. Antonelli went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Ingold went 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored, Miller went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Sterk went 2-for-5 with a couple runs scored.
Robert Woodard (1-0) picked up the victory for Carolina. Woodard went 6.0 innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits. Mike Daniel paced the Tar Heel offensive attack with four hits, three doubles and two RBI. Matt Ellington added three hits and three others had two hits apiece.
With the loss, Wake Forest has now dropped four straight games, eight consecutive against the Tar Heels and all nine of their games on the road this season.
Wake Forest returns to action this Tuesday, March 29 with a makeup game against Elon. The game was originally scheduled for March 15, but was postponed due to rain. First-pitch at Hooks Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
-- WakeForestSports.com --
