Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
North Carolina State
NC State Takes Series Opener from Wake Forest
3/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 19, 2010
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - NC State scored nine runs in the first two innings and never looked back, defeating Wake Forest 17-6 in the first game of a three-game series on Friday night at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
Wake Forest drops to 6-13 on the season and 0-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while NC State improves to 13-5 and 1-3 in the ACC.
Wolfpack starter Jake Buchanan (3-1) earned the victory, pitching seven innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, and striking out eight batters. For the Demon Deacons, starter Michael Dimock (1-3) suffered the loss, pitching two innings and allowing nine runs, seven earned, on eight hits, while striking out two and walking four.
Senior catcher Mike Murray led the Demon Deacons at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Shortstop Pat Blair also had a solid game, going 2-4 at the plate with a solo home run, his second of the season, an RBI and two runs scored.
Tarran Senay led the Wolfpack at the plate, going 4-5 with two doubles, a solo home run, and two RBIs. Dallas and Drew Poulk each homered in the game. Kyle Wilson also had an outstanding game, going 3-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
The Wolfpack got off to a fast start, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Kyle Wilson and Dallas Poulk started the game with consecutive walks. After a fly out to center by Andrew Ciencin, Pratt Maynard reached on a fielding error by Austin Stadler, allowing Wilson to score and sending Poulk to third. A walk to Danny Canela loaded the bases with one out. Drew Poulk singled up the middle to drive home two runs and make the score 3-0. After a strikeout of Senay for the second out of the inning, John Gianis singled through the right side to plate Canela and put NC State in front by four.
In the bottom of the first inning, Wake Forest cut NC State's lead to 4-1. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Steven Brooks and Mike Murray reached on consecutive singles to put runners at first and third. Carlos Lopez scored Brooks with a single to left field to cut the Wolfpack lead to three. After a walk to Stadler to load the bases, Mac Williamson lined out to third to end the threat.
NC State added on to its lead with five runs in the top of the second. The scoring began when Ciencin hit a no-out, two-run double, scoring Wilson and Dallas Poulk. Two batters later, Canela drove a one-out double to deep left field, scoring Ciencin. Canela then crossed the plate when left fielder Tarran Senay hit a two-out double, and the Wolfpack extended their lead to eight when Gianis hit a two-out single, scoring Senay.
The Wolfpack extended their lead to 10-1 in the top of the fourth inning when Drew Poulk hit a two-out solo home run to left field, his fourth of the season. The next two Wolfpack batters reached base, but Mark Adzick struck out NC State shortstop Matt Bergquist to eliminate the threat.
The Deacons trimmed the lead to six with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Stadler and Williamson started the inning with back-to-back singles. The two each moved up a base on a double steal with two outs. The NC State catcher attempted to throw Williamson out at second, but his throw went into center field, allowing Stadler to score. The center fielder misplayed the ball and Williamson was also able to come around and score. Blair then followed with his second home run of the season over the left field fence to make the score 10-4.
NC State scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning, extending their lead to 13-4. Wilson drew a walk to lead off the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch with one out. Ciencin drew a base on balls and Wilson moved to third on a stolen base. Maynard hit a ground ball to second that looked to be a double play. However, Mark Rhine bobbled the ball at second, allowing each runner to move up a base and scoring Wilson. Canela then drove home two runs with a double to the left-center field gap.
Dallas Poulk extended the Wolfpack lead to 14-4 in the top of the sixth inning when he hit a solo home run off of the right field scoreboard. It was his sixth long ball of the season.
The Demon Deacons cut into the NC State lead by scoring two runs in the seventh inning. With one out in the inning, Murray singled into shallow left field, scoring Blair and Brooks. Murray's single cut the NC State lead down to 14-6.
The Wolfpack closed the scoring with three runs in the top of the ninth. Senay began the inning by hitting a solo home run to right field, his fourth of the season. Following the home run, with Gianis and pinch hitter Harold Riggins both on base, Wilson singled, scoring both runners.
Wake Forest and NC State will play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday at 6 p.m. Freshman LHP Tim Cooney (2-0, 3.20) will start for the Demon Deacons, while sophomore RHP Cory Mazzoni (2-1, 5.40) will go for the Wolfpack.
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