Wake Forest University
UNC Wilmington
Wake Forest Baseball Holds Off UNC Wilmington
2/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2006
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Wake Forest freshman Brad Kledzik picked up his first career victory and fellow rookie Garrett Bullock registered his first career save as the Demon Deacons held off UNC Wilmington, 9-7, in their series opener Friday. Wake Forest improves to 2-1 with the victory, while the Seahawks drop to 3-1.
Kledzik, who relieved Wake Forest starter Kyle Young, went 2.2 innings and allowed just one earned run. The right-handed hurler fanned two and walked one. Bullock entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and promptly fanned Grayson Evans on three pitches to end the game.
Sophomore Brett Linnenkohl returned to the lineup after missing last weekend with a hamstring strain and went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Sophomore Andy Goff added a pair of hits, including an RBI double, while junior Matt Antonelli went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a solo home run.
Wake Forest took a three-run lead, 9-6, into the bottom of the ninth inning. UNC Wilmington drew within a pair of runs, 9-7, and eventually loaded the bases with two outs before Bullock closed the door.
The Seahawks jumped out to an early lead off Young. UNC Wilmington scored one run in the first and extended their lead to 3-0 on a balk and sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning.
Antonelli cut the UNC Wilmington lead to 3-1 with a mammoth, solo home run to right field. For Antonelli, the home run was his second of the season and ninth of his career.
Freshman Dustin Hood, who closed the fourth inning with a great stab that started an inning-ending double play, opened a six-run fifth-inning outburst with a single. Freshman Tyler Smith followed with a single, battling back from an 0-2 count. Goff then doubled down the right field line to plate Hood cutting the UNC Wilmington lead to 3-2. Smith raced around to third and promptly scored on redshirt sophomore Eric Williams' RBI ground out. After junior Brian Shust popped out, Antonelli and freshman Allan Dykstra each walked to load the bases.
Linnenkohl then smoked a two-run single back up the middle giving the Deacons a 5-3 lead. Redshirt junior Dan Rosaia then followed with an RBI single and the Demon Deacons capped the frame as Linnenkohl raced home on a failed pickoff attempt making it 7-3.
After the Deacons and Seahawks traded runs in the sixth and seventh, UNC Wilmington answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After the Seahawks cut the gap to 8-6, sophomore closer Ben Hunter came on and quickly dispatched of Barefoot with a pair of Seahawks in scoring position.
Young worked 3.0 innings, allowed three earned runs on four hits and did not factor in the decision. The senior walked one and did not register a strikeout. Sophomore Eric Niesen tossed 1.0 inning of relief, allowing two earned runs on three hits. Hunter also went 2.0 innings, but did not allow an earned run. The right-handed hurler yielded a couple hits and fanned three.
The Demon Deacons return to action tomorrow afternoon with the second game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Junior Charlie Mellies will take the hill for the Deacons.
