Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Duke
Wake Forest Falls Short of Duke 6-5
4/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 26, 2014
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF)
By Nick Sebesta, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest scored four runs in the eighth as the Demon Deacons nearly mounted a comeback over Duke, but the Blue Devils escaped with a 6-5 win on Saturday.
Trailing 6-0 in the eighth inning, Nate Mondou and Conor Keniry each blasted two-run homers to right center, pulling Wake Forest within two. Matt Conway singled home a run in the ninth but with runners on the corners and two outs, Duke got a fly out to end the game.
Mondou clubbed his fifth home run of the season while Keniry recorded his second of the season. Conway went 3-for-5 at the plate with a run batted in while Keniry had three hits. Will Craig was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
Garrett Kelly got the start but took the loss as the Blue Devils pounced for four runs early. Parker Dunshee, Matt Pirro, Nate Jones and Max Tishman pitched in relief. Dunshee went 3.2 innings pitched which set a career high for the freshman.
After Duke took a 4-0 lead, the teams went scoreless until the sixth inning when the Blue Devils added a run on a solo homer from Jordan Betts. Betts then had another homer in the eighth to make it a 6-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Conway doubled down the right field line with two outs, bringing Mondou to the plate. Mondou then clubbed a two-run home run to deep right center field, making it a four-run game.
Craig followed up with a single up the middle which brought Keniry to the plate who proceeded to homer off the video board in right center field. It was the second career homer for Keniry as he made it a 6-4 lead for Duke.
After Tishman struck out the last batter for Duke in the ninth, Ben Breazeale walked on four pitches to lead off the inning. Charlie Morgan then singled to left field followed by Conway who singled to right center, scoring a run. Now a 6-5 lead and runners at the corners, Duke's closer Robert Huber got a fly out to end the game.
Trent Swart started the game for Duke, going 7.0 innings and earned the win. Huber picked up his ninth save of the season.
Wake Forest and Duke will face off in the final game of the series on Sunday at Wake Forest Baseball Park with first pitch at 1 p.m.
