Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Elon
Elon Tops Wake Forest, 19-10
4/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 22, 2008
ELON, N.C. - Elon's Greg Annarummo hit three home runs and drove in 10 RBIs to lead the Phoenix to a 19-10 rout of Wake Forest on Tuesday evening at Latham Park.
With the loss, the Demon Deacons drop to 15-25 overall. The Phoenix move to 30-13 on the year.
The night looked promising for Wake Forest after Allan Dykstra staked the Deacs to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the first inning. However, the Phoenix needed just one hit, a grand slam from Annarummo, to score five runs in the bottom of the first. Elon took advantage of three walks and three hit batters in the frame and then turned the game into an early rout with four more runs in the second and five in the third.
Annarummo was the story of the night, as the freshman turned in a career performance for the home squad. He hit a grand slam in the first, a two-run home run in the second and a three-run shot in the seventh. Annarummo came into the contest with two home runs and seven RBIs in 23 games this season.
The Deacons had a productive night at the plate, getting home runs from Dykstra, Willy Fox, Dustin Hood and Evan Ocheltree. Hood and Fox finished with three hits apiece, while Dykstra drove in three runs. Hood's home run was the first of his career. Mike Murray extended his hitting streak to 13 games, which is the longest streak by a Deacon this season.
The Wake Forest defense shined as well, turning in its fourth straight error-free game. The Deacs have not had an error in seven of their past nine contests.
On the mound, the Deacons combined to hit six batters and issue seven walks in the game. All but three of the 13 batters who reached on free passes came around to score.
Starter Mark Adzick (0-3) took the loss for Wake Forest. The freshman lefty fell victim to control problems in the first inning, recording just two outs on the night. Adzick allowed five runs on one hit with three walks, three hit batters and a strikeout.
Wake Forest struck quickly with two runs in the top of the third. Fox reached on a one-out double, and Dykstra followed with a two-run bomb. The junior slugger launched a 3-1 pitch from Elon starter Cory Harrilchak to straightaway center for his 11th homer of the season.
Elon battled back with five runs in the bottom of the first, despite getting just one hit. However, that lone hit turned out to be a grand slam off the bat of Annarummo. Adzick did not survive the inning, issuing three walks and hitting three more batters. The lefty looked to be out of the inning unscathed with a 3-2 breaking ball to Harrilchak, but the pitch just missed to load the bases with two outs. A hit batter brought in the first run, and Annarummo followed with his grand slam to left center on an 0-2 pitch from Adzick. Ryan Bouton came on with two runners on base to record the final out of the inning.
The Phoenix put together a two-out rally in the second, scoring four runs off Bouton. After the first two batters were retired in order, Chase Austin singled, and Harrilchak was hit by a pitch. Neal Pritchard followed with a double to left center to plate both runners. Annarummo then hit his second home run in as many innings, lacing the first pitch he saw to left center for a two-run shot.
Elon added five more runs off Bouton in the third. Harry Austin led off with a double and then scored one out later on a single from Donny Jobe. Bouton then got Bennett Davis to foul out for the second out of the inning but promptly walked Chase Austin and Harrilchak to load the bases. Pritchard quickly cleared the bases with a double to right center. Annarummo followed with a double of his own to record his seventh RBI of the day and give Elon a 14-2 advantage.
The Deacons snapped their scoreless streak with a pair of solo home runs from Ocheltree and Fox in the fifth. The lefthanded-hitting Ocheltree went the opposite way on an 0-2 pitch from Harrilchak, lofting the ball inside the leftfield foul pole for his fourth homer of the year. One out later, Fox hit the first pitch he saw off the scoreboard in left center to cut the deficit to 14-4. The homer was Fox's fifth of the year and his third in the last five games.
The Phoenix were able to get both runs back in their half of the fifth. Chase Austin led off with a home run against Alex Wiesner. Harrilchak then reached on a walk and came around to score on a single from Harry Austin.
Wake Forest batted around to score four runs in the seventh and cut the deficit to 16-8. Ocheltree led off with a single and then moved to third on a Ben Terry double. Fox drove in Ocheltree with an RBI groundout. Dykstra was issued the Deacons' first walk of the game, and Murray followed with a single to score Terry. Dykstra also scored on the play when the shortstop's throw to third was errant. One out later, Hood plated Murray with a bloop single to right.
Nathan Frazier kept the rally alive with a single to right, forcing Elon to go to reliever Brian Bodjiak. Bodjiak ended the inning when Andy Goff's would-be single through the left side was stabbed a diving third basemen.
Elon scored three times in the bottom of the seventh on Annarummo's third home run of the game. Brandon Johnson hit the first two batters of the inning to set the stage for Annarummo. Johnson got ahead 0-2, but Annarummo hit the next pitch to left center to push his RBI total to 10 on the night.
Wake plated a single run in the eighth to pull within 19-9. Fox reached on a fielder's choice, and Dykstra followed by lacing a sharp double to right to plate the runner from first.
Hood led off the ninth with a solo home run to left, hitting the first pitch he saw from Bodjiak to left for his first career homer.
Harrilchak (4-3) picked up the win for Elon. The lefthander went 6 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 12 hits with seven strikeouts and just one walk.
Annarummo led the Phoenix at the plate, driving in 10 runs. Pritchard finished with six RBIs and four runs, while Harrilchak scored four times.
Wake Forest returns to action tomorrow evening at Coastal Carolina. Deacon RHP Ryan McGrath will match up against Chanticleer RHP David Anderson. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. in Conway, S.C.
