Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
San Diego
Wake Falls to San Diego, 2-0
2/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2007
SAN DIEGO -
The Wake Forest baseball team dropped to 3-2 on the year after falling to San Diego, 2-0, in the first game of a three-game set with the Toreros (10-3). The Deacs managed just one hit on the afternoon, a single from San Diego native Allan Dykstra in the fourth inning.
Sophomore Brad Kledzik (0-1, 5.40 ERA) made his second start of the year and pitched well for six innings, giving up two earned runs and five hits while striking out six and only walking three. Despite the solid effort, Kledzik still earned the loss on the afternoon.
Sophomore Brian Matusz pitched well for the Toreros, going seven innings, giving up the one hit and striking out ten Deacon batters.
For the first time this season, an opponent got on the board before the Deacons. Torero second baseman Justin Snyder walked to start off the game and then advanced to second on a Sean Nicol single to left field. Jordan Abruzzo singled to right, bringing home Snyder from second base to give the Toreros their first run.
The Deacs got out of the inning thanks in part to a heads up play from Deacon shortstop Dustin Hood. Shane Buscini, San Diego's ensuing batter after its run, reached first on a fielder's choice, and Dykstra threw over to Hood to get Abruzzo with the force out at second. In the meantime, Nicol tried to sneak home from third, but Hood threw him out at home to give the Deacs their second out.
Up third in the top of the fourth inning, sophomore Allan Dykstra hit a two-out single up the middle to become the first Deacon batter to reach base. Junior Willy Fox was up next and reached first on an error by Nicol. Dykstra then advanced to third on a Matusz wild pitch.
Matusz then walked Austin Jones, loading the bases for junior Ben Terry. With the count 2-2, Terry appeared to be hit by Matusz's pitch, but the umpire ruled Terry leaned into the strike zone giving Matusz the third strike and ending the inning.
The Toreros picked up their second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Up third in the inning, Josh Romanski walked and then advanced to second on a Kledzik wild pitch. Daniel Magness singled to score Romanski and make the score 2-0.
The Deacs threatened again in the top of sixth, but could not get anyone home. Linnenkohl walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on consecutive sacrifice hits by Hood and Dykstra. Matusz then struck out Fox to end the inning.
Freshman Phil Negus came on in the seventh to relieve Kledzik. The native of Millford, Mass., got into a little early trouble, but with two on and two out he struck out Snyder swinging to end the inning and get out of the jam.
A.J. Smith came on to pitch the last two innings for the Toreros to earn his fourth save of the season. Matusz and Smith combined to give up one hit, walk four and strike out 13 Wake Forest batters.
Junior Eric Niesen (1-0, 5.68 ERA) will take the mound for the Deacs on Saturday. He will square off with Matt Couch (2-0, 4.12 ERA) for the second game of the three-game series with San Diego.
-- WakeForestSports.com --
