Wake Forest University
VCU
Deacons Shut Down VCU in Nightcap of Doubleheader.
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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By Jay Garneau, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest rebounded from a slug-fest loss to Bucknell by shutting down VCU to split a doubleheader at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
The Demon Deacons (2-1) dropped the opener to the Bison (1-1), 16-12, but battled back to shut out the Rams (1-1), 1-0.
Stuart Fairchild reached base in all nine of his plate appearances, and Parker Dunshee hurled a gem against VCU to lead Wake Forest.
Wake Forest 1, VCU 0
Dunshee (1-0) tossed 8.1 innings of shutout ball, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out a career-high 11 batters. He had never before pitched more than four innings or struck out more than four batters while a Demon Deacon.
Fairchild provided the game's only offense, going 3-for-3 with a a fifth-inning solo blast over the left-field wall for what proved to be the difference in the game.
After allowing two infield singles to start the ninth, a passed ball put runners on second and third with nobody out for VCU.
Dunshee struck out the next batter, before intentionally walking a batter to load the bases.
Aaron Fossas then took the mound for the first time of the year, and Will Craig snared a ground ball to start a game-ending double play.
Fossas picked up his 12th career save for Wake Forest.
JoJo Howie took the loss for VCU, runners-up in the A-10 Tournament a year ago, despite striking out nine and allowing one run in 6.0 innings.
Bucknell 16, Wake Forest 12
The Demon Deacons dug a hole too deep to climb out of against the Bison in the first game of the day.
Wake Forest outscored Bucknell 10-3 over the final four innings, but was unable to overcome the early 13-2 deficit.
Fairchild went 2-for-2 with four walks, while Will Craig and Ben Breazeale had three hits apiece to lead the comeback effort. Craig also had two doubles, and Breazeale added one with a pair of RBIs.
Trailing by 11, Nate Mondou capped off a six-run inning with a double to the wall, which plated Fairchild, Bruce Steel and Jonathan Pryor to cut the deficit to 13-8.
Bucknell picked up a trio of vital insurance runs in the ninth on back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Joe Ogren and Jon Mayer, extending the margin to 16-8.
Wake Forest chipped into the margin in the ninth, thanks largely due to Craig and Breazeale singles and a trio of Bucknell errors. With the potential tying run on deck, Mondou flew out to the warning track to end the game.
Demon Deacon starter Garrett Kelly (0-1) took the loss, while Bryson Hough (1-0) earned the win for the Bison.
Bucknell was led by Mayer (4-for-5, 2 2B, 4 RBIs), Danny Rafferty (2-for-3, 2B, BB, 4 RBIs), Ogren, Anthony Gingerelli and Brett Hits (three hits apiece).
Parker Johnson and Paul Kirkpatrick combined to throw 4.2 shutout innings in relief, allowing five hits without a walk.
REALLY A FRESHMAN?
• Newcomer Stuart Fairchild has reached base in 10 straight plate appearances, going 6-for-6 with a homer, double and four walks in that span.
• He wraps up his first collegiate weekend with a .778 batting average and .846 on-base percentage, also tallying a pair of stolen bases.
THE BACKSTOP
• Ben Breazeale has also gotten off to a strong start, holding a .417 average through three games.
• In addition to a double and three RBIs, Breazeale has yet to allow a stolen base from behind the plate.
WHIFFS
• Two of Wake Forest's three starting pitchers did not allow an earned run in their first starts.
• Parker Dunshee and Matt Pirro have combined for 13.1 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and seven walks with 20 strikeouts.
ON DECK
• Wake Forest is slated to play at Davidson on Tuesday at 6 p.m., followed by a tournament over the weekend with games against George Mason, Western Carolina and UNC Wilmington.
