Wake Forest University
Maryland
Wake Forest Falls to Maryland, 8-2
3/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 14, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Allan Dykstra hit his ACC-best sixth home run of the season, but Wake Forest managed just six hits on the day in an 8-2 setback to Maryland Friday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.
With the loss, the Demon Deacons drop to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. The Terrapins move to 8-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
The Wake Forest offense was stagnant most of the afternoon, as Maryland built an 8-0 lead. Terrapin starter Scott Swinson (2-2) went the distance and did not allow a run until Dykstra led off the eighth with a solo home run.
The Terrapin offense was equally as efficient, scoring single runs in the third and fourth before exploding for four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Maryland struck first with an unearned run in the third inning. Steve Braun reached on a one-out single, stole second and then took third when the throw to second went into centerfield. One out later, Chad Durakis drove Braun home with a single to center.
The Terrapins added another run in the fourth, as Mike Murphy led off the frame with a home run to left.
Maryland pushed its lead to 6-0 with four runs in the sixth. Gerry Spessard was hit by a pitch with one out and then took second on a wild pitch. Murphy followed with a double to right center to score Spessard. After a walk to Will Greenberg, lefty Alex Wiesner was called upon to relieve Hunter.
A.J. Casario walked to load the bases, and Nick Jowers followed with an RBI groundout. Joe Palumbo then drove a double to right center to plate Casario and Greenberg.
The Terps struck again in the seventh, scoring two runs off Wiesner and Ryan McGrath. Jensen Pupa hit a one-out double off Wiesner, and McGrath came on to pitch for the Deacs. An out and a walk later, Murphy laced a two-run triple to the leftfield corner to give the visitors an 8-0 margin.
Wake Forest cut the deficit to 8-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Dykstra put the Deacons on the board with a solo home run to lead off the frame. Dykstra drilled a 3-2 pitch from Swinson to straightaway center for his ACC-leading sixth home run of the season.
One out later, Evan Ocheltree laced a single up the middle. Ocheltree, who moved to second and third respectively on a groundout and a wild pitch, scored the second run of the frame when Andy Goff reached on a fielding error by the Terrapin shortstop.
That was all Wake would get, though, as Swinson ended the threat in the seventh and sent the Deacons down in order in each the eighth and ninth.
Dykstra, Ocheltree and Dustin Hood each extended their respective hitting streaks. Ocheltree is now at nine games, Hood is at eight and Dykstra is at seven.
Hunter (1-2) took the loss with 5 1/3 innings of work. He came in never having given up a hit to Maryland in seven career innings but allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk.
Lefty reliever Eli Robins came on with two on and one out in the eighth and got the Deacs out of the jam with a strikeout and a flyout. Robins worked 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
Swinson (2-2) earned the win for Maryland. The righthander surrendered two runs, one earned, on six hits in the complete game. Swinson, who threw 123 pitches on the afternoon, had seven strikeouts and just one walk.
Murphy led the Terps at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. He fell a single short of the cycle after being called upon to sacrifice bunt in the ninth.
Wake Forest and Maryland will meet in the second game of the three-game series on Saturday at Hooks Stadium. LHP Garrett Bullock (2-0, 4.15) will take the hill for the Deacons, while the Terrapins will counter with RHP Ian Schwalenberg (0-0, 6.00). First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
