Wake Forest University
High Point
Deacons Take Down High Point, 8-3
3/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
Wake Forest used a pair of home runs and strong work from the bullpen to defeat High Point, 8-3, on Tuesday night at David F. Couch Ballpark.
The Demon Deacons (12-6) were led on offense by Stuart Fairchild, who recorded a season-high four RBI's and his first home run of the season.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, Fairchild stepped to the plate with two runners on and blasted a line-drive opposite-field shot to right field to give the Deacons a 3-2 lead.
The next pitch, Gavin Sheets drilled a towering fly ball that sailed over the right-field fence and extended the Wake Forest lead to 4-2. This was the first time Wake Forest hit back-to-back home runs since Nate Mondou and Will Craig accomplished the feat on March 8, 2015 against Virginia Tech.
Jonathan Pryor and Kevin Conway were highly productive from the top two spots in the order, as Pryor recorded two hits and two runs scored, while Conway matched his season-high with three hits.
Right-hander John McCarren (2-0) came on in relief of Aaron Fossas in the first inning and fired 5.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) to steady the game for the Demon Deacons. Fossas, making his first start after returning from Tommy John surgery, felt tightness in his arm and left the game for precautionary reasons.
After Ryan Morse struck out the only batter he faced to end the sixth, Rayne Supple finished the game, totaling career-highs in innings (3.0) and strikeouts (three) to earn the first save of his career.
High Point (12-5) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single in the first, but McCarren got a line out to strand the bases loaded and avoid further damage.
Wake Forest responded with the four-run first inning, and plated two more runs in the second. A Jonathan Pryor single led to a misplay in center field and allowed Drew Freedman to score, then Mondou added another run on a sacrifice fly to deep right center to build a 6-2 lead after two innings.
Wake Forest tacked on their seventh run in the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice from Fairchild, before High Point tallied their third run of the game in the top of the sixth.
The Demon Deacons added their final run in the bottom of the inning when Freedman stole home on a pickoff attempt to first with two outs in the sixth to give the Deacs a five-run advantage.
In total, Wake Forest relievers combined for 8.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned), while striking out six.
Michael Hennessey (2-1) suffered his first defeat for the Panthers, giving up six runs (five earned) in 3.0 frames. The offense was led by Austen Zente, who had three hits and an RBI.
Wake Forest has a quick turnaround tomorrow, traveling to Charlotte for a 6 p.m. contest.
