Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Travel to Charlotte & Appalachian State This Week
4/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 23, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Coming off a frustrating three-game sweep at the hands of Boston College last weekend, Wake Forest will try to rebound with a pair of road games this week. The Demon Deacons travel to Charlotte on Tuesday and then head to Appalachian State on Wednesday.
Tuesday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m., while Wednesday's contest will commence at 3 p.m.
The Deacons come into the mid-week having lost five of their last six games, including three at Boston College last weekend. The series sweep dropped Wake to 22-22 overall and 8-13 in the ACC.
Wake Forest will be looking for the season series sweep of Charlotte on Tuesday. Behind Tyler Smith's two-run walk-off home run, the Deacons defeated the 49ers 9-7 on February 27. Wake dug itself an early 7-2 hole but scored seven unanswered runs over the final five innings.
RHP Ben Hunter (4-5, 5.87) will start for the Demon Deacons on Tuesday. Hunter will be making his third start of the season and 23rd appearance overall. He has been solid in each of his first two starts, with both coming against nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina. He earned the win in Conway, S.C., on April 11 and received a no-decision when the Chanticleers visited Hooks Stadium on April 18.
Charlotte comes into Tuesday's game 32-7 overall and 13-2 in Atlantic 10 play. The 49ers have won six of their last seven after taking two of three games from Dayton last weekend. Charlotte, who is ranked No. 25 in the latest USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, is 22-2 at home in 2007.
The Deacons will be looking to exact a measure of revenge against Appalachian State on Wednesday. The Mountaineers defeated the Deacs, 10-9, February 20 in Winston-Salem. ASU overcame a 7-0 deficit to earn the victory and snap a 17-game losing streak to Wake Forest.
RHP Joel Ernst (0-2, 5.62) will take the mound for the Deacons on Wednesday. Ernst is coming off one of his best outings of the season, going a career-long 6.1 innings in a no-decision at High Point last Tuesday. Ernst has received a no-decision in each of his last three starts.
Appalachian State heads into its mid-week games 22-19 overall and 9-9 in the Southern Conference. The Mountaineers have lost five of their last six including two of three against Georgia Southern over the weekend. Appalachian hosts UNC Asheville on Tuesday before entertaining the Deacons on Wednesday.
Wake Forest returns to ACC play this weekend with a three-game home series with Duke. The Blue Devils are 25-17 overall and 6-15 in the ACC after winning two of three games against Maryland last weekend.
