Wake Forest University
Charlotte
Wake Forest Thumps Charlotte, 14-0
3/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2010
Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 
| Updated Season Stats
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest turned in its most complete performance of the season as the offense plated a season-high 14 runs and six Wake Forest pitchers combined for a shutout as the Demon Deacons defeated Charlotte 14-0 on Tuesday night at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
With the victory, Wake Forest improves to 9-17 on the season while Charlotte falls to 15-6 on the year.
The Wake Forest offense was rolling from the start, scoring in each of the first four innings. The Deacs scored three runs in the first, two runs in the second, a run in the third and broke the game open with six runs in the fourth. Wake closed the scoring with two runs in the seventh. The Demon Deacons finished the game with a season-high 14 runs on 13 hits.
The shutout was the second in three games for the Demon Deacon pitching staff. Wake Forest shut out Virginia Tech, 5-0, in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. It also marks the first time in 73 games that any team has shutout the Charlotte 49ers.
Wake Forest starter Justin Van Grouw (1-2) earned his first collegiate victory, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings and allowing three hits while recording four strikeouts. Charlotte starter Corbin Shive (1-2) suffered the loss, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing six hits and five earned runs.
In relief, Niko Spezial, Ryan McGrath, Eli Robins, Ryan Bouton and Gabe Feldman preserved the shutout. Spezial gave up two hits in 2.1 scoreless innings, while McGrath retired both batters he faced. Robins, Bouton and Feldman closed the game with each throwing a scoreless inning.
Ryan Semeniuk led the Demon Deacons at the plate, going 3-4 and finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Semeniuk hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season, scored a career-high tying three runs and had an RBI. Austin Stadler also had a stellar outing, going 2-5 at the plate with a double and three RBI. Mark Rhine went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Mike Murray was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Cory Tilton led the 49ers at the plate, going 2-5 with a double. Shane Brown reached base in all three plate appearances, hitting a single and drawing two walks.
The 49ers threatened to open up an early lead in the top of the first inning, but Van Grouw was able to pitch out of danger without allowing a run. Justin Wilson led off the inning with a walk after an 11-pitch at bat, and, with one out, Brown singled, moving Wilson up to second. Both runners moved into scoring position on a groundout to short by Ryan Rivers. However, Van Grouw got out of the jam by inducing a lineout by Kevin Gillespie.
Wake Forest jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Pat Blair led off the inning with a walk, and Semeniuk lined a single up the middle to put runners on first and second with no outs. Steven Brooks followed with a single to right field, scoring Blair and moving Semeniuk up to third base. After Brooks stole second base to put both runners in scoring position, Mike Murray then hit a sharp line-drive to center field, scoring both runners. The Deacons threatened to extend their lead after Matt Conway singled down the left field line with two outs, putting runners at first and second, but Shane Kroker ended the threat with a fly out to deep right field.
The Demon Deacons extended their lead in the top of the second when they scored two more runs. Rhine singled on a perfectly-placed bunt up the third base line to begin the inning, and immediately stole second. With one out, Rhine stole third base and Charlotte catcher Zane Williams' throw to third was in the dirt, allowing Rhine to scoot home for the fourth run of the game. On the following pitch, Semeniuk blasted a solo home run to right-center, his fourth of the season.
Wake Forest added to the lead in the bottom of the third inning, making the score 6-0. With one out, Stadler struck out swinging, but reached on a wild pitch, to begin the inning. Conway followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. Kroker then hit a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. Rhine followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left field, scoring Stadler.
Charlotte threatened to score again in the top of the fourth inning, but relief pitcher Niko Spezial was able to pitch out of the jam. With two outs, second baseman Corey Shaylor singled to shallow right field, and shortstop Justin Roland followed with a single of his own. However, Spezial induced a fly-out to deep left field by Wilson to end the 49ers scoring threat.
Wake Forest padded their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Deacons scored six runs on four hits, extending the lead to 12-0. Semeniuk doubled down the left field line to begin the inning, and Brooks reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with no out. After Brooks stole second, his second of the game, to put both runners in scoring position, Murray walked to load the bases with no outs. With one out, Stadler then doubled down the right field line, his third two-bagger of the year, scoring Semeniuk and Brooks and moving Murray to third. Conway followed the double with a one-out walk to load the bases for the second time in the inning, and Kroker followed with a single to shallow left field, scoring Murray. Rhine continued the hot hitting for the Deacons with a double down the left field line, scoring Stadler and Conway. The Deacons added one more run on a sacrifice fly by Blair, scoring Kroker, before ending the inning.
The Deacons extended their lead again in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring two runs to run the score up to 14-0. Mac Williamson hit a lead-off double down the right field line, and Carlos Lopez walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Stadler then singled to right field, scoring Williamson. Wilson did not field the ball cleanly, allowing Lopez to score and Stadler to advance to third on the two-base fielding error.
Wake Forest returns to action on Wednesday night at Elon. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET). Junior RHP Brandon Johnson (0-3, 7.97) will pitch for the Demon Deacons, while Elon has yet to announce its starter for the game.
For all of the latest information on Wake Forest baseball, please log on to www.WakeForestSports.com or, for up-to-the minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account @WFUBaseball or www.twitter.com/WFUBaseball.
