Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Maryland
Wake Forest Baseball Races Past Maryland, 11-5
4/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 24, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --- Senior J.B. Tucker went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI to lead Wake Forest past Maryland, 11-5, in ACC baseball action from Shipley Field Sunday afternoon. With the victory, the Demon Deacons not only take two of three from the Terrapins, but also improve to 19-23 overall and 11-13 in the ACC.
Tucker provided the critical blow in the top of the eighth inning. With the Demon Deacons leading by just a single run, Tucker fell behind 0-2, but fouled a pair of pitches off before hammering a 1-2 pitch off the left field wall for a two-run double that gave Wake Forest an 8-5 lead. Senior Ryder Mathias followed with a double into the right centerfield gap scoring Tucker to push the lead to 9-5.
Freshman Brett Linnenkohl and senior Ben Ingold provided some insurance in the top of the ninth inning. Linnenkohl smacked an RBI single back up the middle, while Ingold drilled an RBI double off the centerfield wall giving the Deacs an 11-5 lead.
The six-run cushion was more than enough for senior Tim Morely. The southpaw tossed the final 3.0 innings and did not allow a run for his first career save. Demon Deacon starter Brian Bach (2-1) picked up the victory. He worked into the sixth inning for the fourth consecutive start. The senior went 6.0 innings and allowed five runs, all earned, on seven hits. Bach struckout four and walked an uncharacteristic three.
Tucker was the definite star on Sunday and the entire weekend. The catcher went 8-for-10 in the three-game series with a double, two home runs and seven RBI. Tucker also drew six walks and registered a slugging percentage of 1.500. He now leads the Deacs in batting average (.329), home runs (11) and RBI (51).
Mathias, senior Matt Miller and redshirt junior Grant Achilles each had three hits for Wake Forest as they pounded out 16 on the day. Mathias went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI, while Miller went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Achilles, making just his second career start at first base, went 3-for-5 with a couple runs scored. Ingold went 2-for-6 with two runs scored and a RBI.
The Demon Deacons grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ingold reached on a throwing error from Maryland third basemen Joe Palumbo. Ingold would race all the way to third base after the ball rolled down the right field line. With one out, Terrapin starting pitcher Chris Clem walked Tucker. Clem then struckout Mathias, but on the third strike Tucker stole second base. When Maryland catcher Chad Durakis threw toward second base in an attempt to cut down Tucker, Ingold scampered home for the first run of the game.
The Terps quickly answered in their half of the first inning. Elliott Singletary led off the inning with a first pitch double down the left field line. Will Frazier would tie the game 1-1 with an RBI ground out.
Wake Forest regained the lead, 3-1, with a couple of runs in the top of the second inning. Junior Casey Sterk led off the inning with a walk, then Achilles singled. With runners on first and second, freshman Andy Goff laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt allowing both Sterk and Achilles to advance. Linnenkohl plated the first run with an RBI single and sophomore Matt Antonelli followed with a sacrifice fly to score Achilles.
The Deacs extended their lead to 5-1 in the top of the fifth inning on back-to-back solo home runs from Tucker and Mathias. Tucker belted his team-leading 11th home run deep over the centerfield wall, while Mathias blasted his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall. The back-to-back home runs were the first consecutive homers for Wake Forest since Jamie D'Antona and Jeff Ruziecki went back-to-back at Maryland on March 15, 2003.
Maryland drew a run closer in the bottom of the fifth inning, then tied the game, 5-5, on Elliott Singletary's three-run double down the leftfield line. Singletary had two doubles on the afternoon and now has 19 this season.
The Demon Deacons answered back in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Tucker singled, then raced to third on Mathias' single. Miller followed with the Deacs third consecutive hit of the inning scoring Tucker. When Sterk flied out, Mathias scampered to third then Miller stole second. With two runners in scoring position, Achilles struckout, but the Deacs did regain the lead, 6-5.
Wake Forest returns to action Tuesday afternoon against Liberty. First-pitch at Hooks Stadium is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
