Wake Forest University
Clemson
Homers Spark Deacons in Victory Over No. 20 Clemson
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest jumped out to an early six-run lead and held on to beat No. 20-ranked Clemson 6-4 in the ACC-opener at David Couch Ballpark on Friday night.
The win was the 600th of skipper Tom Walter's head coaching career.
Will Craig starred once again for the Demon Deacons (11-4, 1-0 ACC), belting two home runs in the first three innings and firing two scoreless innings in relief to pick up his third save.
Friday night marked the second consecutive home game in which Craig has delivered a multi-home run performance, as he also hit two bombs last Sunday against Richmond. He has seven longballs to date in 2016.
First basemen Gavin Sheets added his second homer of the season, launching a 410-foot homer to right field to lead off the second inning.
On the mound, right-hander Parker Dunshee (3-1) picked up a win for the second straight start, tossing 7.0 strong innings without issuing a walk and striking out eight Tigers (9-3, 0-1 ACC).
Wake Forest wasted no time jumping on Clemson lefty Charlie Barnes (1-2), as Nate Mondou brought home Jonathan Pryor on a one-out single in the first. Craig immediately followed with the first of his two runs to give the Deacs a 3-0 lead after one.
The Deacs added another in the second on the leadoff homer from Sheets and continued to build their lead, as Craig's second blast of the game brought home Mondou again to give Dunshee a six-run cushion after three innings.
Clemson gradually cut into the deficit, adding a two-run homer from Seth Beer in the fourth and single runs in the sixth and seventh off Dunshee to tighten the gap.
However, Craig entered in the eighth and struck out two batters over two innings to earn the save.
For Walter, the 600th career victory comes in his 20th season as a head coach. He amassed 275 victories in eight years at George Washington, 153 in five years at New Orleans, and has accumulated 172 in his six-plus years at Wake Forest.
Up next, Wake Forest will continue its three-game set against Clemson at 4 p.m. Saturday at David F. Couch Ballpark.
