Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Baseball Game Notes - 3/4-6
3/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 3, 2011
For the second consecutive week, the Demon Deacons will be welcoming several teams to Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park. Towson, who was here last weekend, will be making the return trip, while Fordham and Radford will be making their first visit of the year to Winston-Salem.
Wake Forest has played five straight games at home since returning from its season-opening series in Baton Rouge, La. against LSU. The Deacons have thrived at home thus far, recording a 4-1 record at WFBP.
During the homestand, the Deacon pitching staff has been stingy on the mound, putting together a 2.93 ERA in 46.0 innings of work. Sophomore Justin Van Grouw (1.17), junior Zach White (1.69) and junior Michael Dimock (1.80) have all pitched at least five innings and have ERAs under 2.00.
The Wake Forest hitters have also outperformed their counterparts, hitting .275 over the last five games compared to just .231 for the opponents. The Deacon power has come alive with seven homers in the last five games, including three in an 11-1 victory over UNC Greensboro on Tuesday.
Sophomore Matt Conway cracked his first two home runs of the season against the Spartans, while senior Steven Brooks also hit his first long ball of the year in that game.
As he did a year ago, Conway is again leading the Demon Deacon offense this season. So far, he has posted team highs in batting average (.345), hits (10), home runs (2), RBIs (12) and slugging percentage (.621).
Brooks has routinely found himself on base with a team-high .515 on-base percentage. The Deacon center fielder is hitting .273 (6-for-22), has walked eight times and has been hit with three pitches. When reaching base, Brooks has been explosive by scoring seven runs and stealing 4-of-5 bases successfully.
Sophomore LHP Tim Cooney has been solid in both of his starts this season and has pitched a team-high 14.0 innings. In that time, he has posted a 3.21 ERA and has struck out seven batters while walking just two.
Next Up...
Wake Forest will play one more non-conference game when Coastal Carolina comes to town on Wednesday before beginning ACC action. The Demon Deacons will open up conference play on March 11-13 when North Carolina visits Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
