Wake Forest University
Notre Dame
Deacons Use All-Around Effort to Beat Notre Dame
4/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
| Final Stats (PDF) 
By Jay Garneau, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest used a strong all-around effort to take down Notre Dame, 4-2, and even the series at one game apiece at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park on Saturday night.
After the game started two hours later than scheduled due to rain, Wake Forest (24-20, 10-13 ACC) limited Notre Dame (28-14, 12-11 ACC) to two runs on just five hits. The Demon Deacons totaled 11 hits, including three for extra bases.
One of those extra-base knocks was a solo bomb from Will Craig, his league-leading 13th of the season, which tied the game at 2-2.
He also earned the win on the mound to improve to 2-3. He tossed 2.1 scoreless frames in relief, striking out two and allowing two hits.
After his game-tying blast, Wake Forest took the lead with a pair of runs in the seventh.
Drew Freedman singled and Kevin Conway was hit by a pitch, before Nate Mondou hit a go-ahead RBI single. Justin Yurchak was then retired for the only time in the game, as he sacrificed himself for an RBI groundout to make the score 4-2.
Parker Dunshee entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth. He struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning, and added another strikeout in the ninth as he picked up his third save of the season.
Connor Johnstone was impressive as the Wake Forest starting pitcher, allowing just two hits in 5.0 innings, conceding two runs in the no decision.
Yurchak went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Demon Deacon offense. After going 5-for-5 yesterday, Stuart Fairchild started the day 2-for-2 with his third double of the series before being retired his last two at bats.
Kyle Fiala led the Fighting Irish with three of their five hits, including one of two RBIs. Brandon Bielak started and struck out five in 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits. Evy Ruibal (0-2) took the loss in relief.
WAKE FOREST IMPROVES TO...
• 19-0 when allowing five runs or less.
• 23-1 when taking a lead into the eighth inning.
• 11-1 when Justin Yurchak records two or more hits.
SLUMP* ENDED
• Will Craig snapped an eight-game homerless streak, his longest of the year, by drilling his 13th of the season.
• *Despite that being his slowest stretch of the season so far, he still hit .296 over those eight games.
FIGHTING FOR ACC LIFE
• Ten teams make the ACC Baseball Tournament, with the 7-10 seeds having to participate in a play-in game.
• Wake Forest entered the day in 11th place, on the outside looking in.
• With the victory, the Demon Deacons leapfrog Boston College (loss) and NC State (rained out) into a tie for eighth with Georgia Tech (loss).
SUNDAY FUNDAY
• The rubber game of the series is set for Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m.
• Due to Saturday's rain, Bark in the Park will now be held on Sunday, with the Forsyth County Humane Society collecting donations for free admission.
