Wake Forest University
Missouri
Wake Forest Baseball Upsets No. 12 Missouri, 4-3
2/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2006
Gainesville, Fla. --- Wake Forest used dominating pitching and a three-run home run from sophomore Austin Jones to squeak past No. 12 Missouri, 4-3, in their second game from the Pepsi Baseball Classic Saturday night. With the victory, the Demon Deacons improve to 5-3, while the Tigers fall to 5-3.
Wake Forest closer Ben Hunter picked up his third save of the season, but it was without drama. Hunter entered the game with two outs and the tying runner in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth inning, but retired Derek Chambers to keep the lead one run, 4-3.
The right-handed hurler then hit John McKee to open the ninth, but got Brook Bond to line out. He almost got J.C. Field to ground into a game-ending double play, but Field was safe at first base. With two outs, Hunter simply overmatched Gary Arndt and fanned him on four pitches to end the game.
The Demon Deacons jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning. After sophomore Andy Goff reached on a throwing error and scampered to second base, senior Casey Sterk singled before sophomore Weldon Woodall picked up his first career hit and RBI with a single driving in Goff. Sophomore Austin Jones capped the inning with a three-run bomb deep over the left field wall.
Missouri (5-3) answered in their half of the third inning with a solo home run by Arndt.
Tigers starting pitcher Nathan Kulp (2-1) settled down after the early inning trouble. The southpaw retired nine of the next 10 Demon Deacons, only allowing an infield single from Woodall in the fourth.
Wake Forest starter Justin Keadle (1-1) was equally effective. After surrendering the solo home run in the third, Keadle retired Missouri in order in the fourth and did allow an unearned run in the fifth, but left the game with a 4-2 lead. He limited the Tigers to just the one earned run on three hits. Keadle struck out four and walked one.
Keadle was making his second career start against the Tigers. The redshirt senior went 7.0 innings and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits back on March 12, 2004. He struck out four and walked one, but did not factor in the decision.
Kulp was tremendous in a losing effort. The junior tossed 8.0 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits. He fanned two and did not issue a walk.
Sophomore Eric Niesen was the first Deacon out of the bullpen and tossed a scoreless inning of relief. The southpaw fanned two and walked one. Junior Josh Ellis, who made his first appearance this season after dropping down to almost a three-quarter delivery, was solid. He did allow an earned run on two hits, but struck out a pair without a walk.
Woodall, who made his first career start yesterday, went 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI. Freshman Allan Dykstra went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
Wake Forest returns to action Sunday afternoon against No. 2 Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Junior right-handed hurler Charlie Mellies will take the mound for the Demon Deacons.
