Wake Forest Athletics
Baseball Game Notes - Wake Forest at NC State
4/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2011
Wake Forest and NC State enter their weekend series with identical 3-6 records in conference play. The Demon Deacons are 9-15 overall on the year, while the Wolfpack is 15-11.
Both teams are coming off midweek wins over non-conference opponents. Wake Forest claimed a 6-2 victory over Appalachian State in Hickory, N.C., while NC State picked up a 9-1 road victory over UNC Greensboro.
Brian Holmes got the start against ASU for Wake and earned his first-career victory by going five innings and striking out seven without allowing a run.
Mac Williamson hit his fourth home run of the season against the Mountaineers, and Carlos Lopez reached base four times, going 2-for-2 with two walks.
Williamson now is tied for the team lead in home runs with Matt Conway, and he leads the Demon Deacons with a .286 batting average. Conway is hitting .273 on the year and has a team-best 25 RBIs.
Steven Brooks continues to get aboard at a high rate with a .412 on-base percentage, as he has 17 hits, 22 walks and has been hit by three pitches. Once he is on base, he has been a threat, stealing eight bases and scoring 21 runs.
Saturday starter Tim Cooney has been brilliant on the mound through his first six starts of the season. The sophomore lefty is fresh off a combined shutout over Florida State when he pitched 7.2 innings, struck out 11 and allowed just five hits. His season ERA is at 1.50 overall and is at 0.82 against conference opponents.
Having been used completely as a reliever this season, freshman Nate Jones is scheduled to make the start on Friday night. His numbers have been impressive out of the bullpen with a 3.12 ERA and a .233 opponent batting average in 17.1 innings of work.
Michael Dimock will also look to continue his impressive season as the Deacons' best reliever. Dimock has a 1.33 ERA in 20.1 innings and nearly a 4-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
In conference play, Pat Blair has been the man providing the offense with a .344 batting average, five doubles and nine walks. He ranks in the Top 7 in four different categories in ACC competition.
Next Up...
Wake Forest will have two midweek games next week when they play a home-and-home series with High Point on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Demon Deacons will then welcome ACC opponent Virginia Tech to Wake Forest Baseball Park Friday through Sunday.
