Wake Forest University
Davidson
Baseball Falls At Davidson, 11-10
4/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 6, 2005
DAVIDSON, N.C. --- Jay Heafner blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning and then tossed a scoreless ninth as Davidson rallied past Wake Forest, 11-10, in college baseball action from Wilson Field on the campus of Davidson College.
Taking a 10-7 advantage into the bottom of the eighth inning, Wake Forest was unable to keep the lead. After senior Kip Byrum retired the first Wildcat of the inning, the southpaw hit Michael Muniz. Ronnie Shore followed with an RBI double. After Andrew Musashe laid down a perfect bunt, Byrum then got ahead of Heafner 1-2, but was relieved for closer Kyle Young. Heafner then greeted Young's first delivery deep over the centerfield wall to give the Wildcats an 11-10 lead.
Redshirt sophomore Brendan Enick did double with one out in the top of the ninth, but senior Matt Miller and junior Casey Sterk each popped out to end the threat.
With the game tied, 7-7, the Demon Deacons scored three runs in the top of the eighth to grab a 10-7 lead. Sterk led off the inning with a double, then advanced to third base when Davidson centerfield Muniz bobbled the ball after it bounced off the wall. After freshman Andy Goff grounded out, freshman Brett Linnenkohl followed with an RBI single to score Sterk. Sophomore Matt Antonelli then flew out, but senior Ben Ingold followed with his third home run of the season that sailed deep over the left field wall.
The Demon Deacons grabbed a first-inning 1-0 lead on a solo home run from senior J.B. Tucker.
Davidson plated a run of its own in the bottom of the first inning. Musashe drew a one-out walk and then stole second base. Niesen then got a fly out and should have gotten out of the inning, but Enick misplayed a routine ground ball and then tossed it away, for a pair of errors, that allowed Musashe too scamper home from second base.
The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Rob Wilson drew a one-out walk, stole second base and came around to score on Sam Navarro's RBI single.
The Deacs regained the lead with a four-run third inning. Ingold laced a two-run double into the right centerfield gap to score Antonelli and Goff, both of whom reached on walks. Tucker then followed with his second home run of the evening, just over the left field wall to give the Deacs a 5-2 lead. The bomb was Tucker's second of the game, seventh of the season and 12th of his career.
Davidson quickly answered with four of their own in the bottom of the third inning. The Wildcats grabbed a 6-5 lead on a pair of two-run home runs from Gregory Sage and Andrew Wilson.
The Demon Deacons jumped back ahead, 7-6, with two runs in their half of the fourth inning. Sterk scampered home on a Davidson pass ball, then Ingold drove in a run with a fielder's choice.
The Wildcats evened the score, 7-7, with an RBI single from Jay Heafner. Five of Davidson's first seven runs reached base by a walk or hit by pitch.
Wake Forest freshman Eric Niesen was touched up in his first career start for the Demon Deacons. The southpaw worked just 3.0 innings and was charged with six runs, five earned, on three hits, including two home runs. Niesen was also hurt by three walks. Sean Souders tossed 0.2 innings, walked a pair and allowed one earned run on one hit. Young (2-1) was charged with the loss. The right-hander allowed an earned run on one hit in 0.2 innings.
Ingold went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a career-high tying five RBI. Tucker went 2-for-5 with a couple runs scored and three RBI, including a pair of home runs. Tucker leads the Demon Deacons with seven home runs and 34 RBI.
Wake Forest returns to action this weekend with a three-game ACC series at Florida State.
