Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Ohio
Deacons Snap Losing Streak With 6-4 Win Over Ohio
3/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Alex Wiesner earned his first collegiate victory, and Willy Fox hit a three-run home run to help Wake Forest snap a five-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over Ohio University Tuesday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.
Wiesner (1-0) pitched a solid 6 1/3 innings in his first decision of the season. Wiesner allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits. He struck out three and walked two.
The freshman lefty had a no-hitter through the first four innings before allowing a lead-off single up the middle in the fifth. Making his fifth mid-week start of the season, he let just four baserunners reach through the first six innings.
"I was just trying to get ahead in the count. That's one thing I've been trying to work on," said Wiesner. "Keeping the walks to a minimum was pretty key for me. Getting the sticks going early was big for us also. This did a lot for us to put us on the right track and keep us winning for NC State next weekend."
Wiesner ran into trouble in the seventh, giving up four runs (three earned) in the inning. Kirby Wedekind relieved Wiesner with two on and one out and, after allowing a two-run double, was able to get out of the jam to preserve the Demon Deacon lead.
Fox helped the Deacons' cause both at the plate and in the field. Playing his first game of the year at second base, Fox dove to snare a line-drive that would have scored the Bobcats' fifth run in the seventh inning.
In the third inning, Fox hit his fourth home run of the season, a three-run blast to left center. The homer capped a rally that saw the Deacons bat around to plate five unearned runs off Ohio starter Dan Weiss. Brett Linnenkohl and Allan Dykstra each had RBI singles during the inning.
Wake Forest manufactured an insurance run in the sixth inning. Dustin Hood and Evan Ocheltree led off with back-to-back singles and then were sent on a double steal. Hood slid into third safely, but the throw from the Ohio catcher sailed high, allowing Hood to score easily.
The Bobcats came back with the four runs off Wiesner the following inning. Jon Vondrell led the rally with a two-run home run that cleared the trees in left field.
Brad Kledzik and Josh Ellis came in to shut the door over the final two innings. Kledzik, who is the Deacs' normal Friday starter, made his first relief appearance of the season and struck out two batters in a scoreless eighth.
Ellis earned his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Ellis allowed a two-out hit and had two strikeouts on the day.
Hood and Dykstra had multiple-hit days for the Demon Deacons. Hood finished the game 3-for-4, while Dykstra was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Fox's home run extended his hitting streak to a team-high 11 games. Hood is riding a six-game hitting streak.
Weiss (2-2) took the loss for Ohio. The lefty pitched three innings, surrendering five unearned runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Vondrell and Bryant Witt each had two RBIs at the plate for the Bobcats.
Wake Forest improves to 12-10 overall with the win. Ohio, who came in having won nine of its past 10 games, drops to 9-7 on the year.
Wake Forest is back in action tomorrow when it travels to Winthrop for a 6 p.m. game with the Eagles. RHP Joel Ernst (0-1, 3.42) will take the hill for the Deacons.
