Wake Forest University
Minnesota
Wake Forest's Season Ends in NCAA Regional
6/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) 
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Wake Forest was eliminated from the 2016 NCAA Regional in College Station on Sunday afternoon in an 8-3 loss to Minnesota at Texas A&M's Blue Bell Park.
The Demon Deacons finish the season 35-27 overall. Minnesota (36-21) advances to play the host Aggies on Sunday night.
It was the final game in Old Gold & Black for six seniors: Christian Bartholomew, Kevin Conway, Aaron Fossas, Garrett Kelly, Ryan Morse and Joey Rodriguez.
Sophomore Gavin Sheets led the Deacons offensively, finishing 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Minnesota began the scoring in the top of the first when the Gophers put together three singles off Demon Deacon starter Connor Johnstone to plate a run for a 1-0 lead.
The Deacons had opportunities early, leaving the bases loaded in the third and stranding two runners in the fourth.
Minnesota took a 2-0 lead in the third when Matt Fiedler drew a leadoff walk and eventually advanced to third before scoring on a wild pitch.
In the fifth, Minnesota went up 4-0, scoring twice with two outs. Austin Athmann singled and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a Toby Hanson double. Jordan Smith immediately followed with an opposite field double to make it 4-0. John McCarren relieved Johnstone and was able to get the Deacons out of the inning.
Jonathan Pryor led off the fifth with a check-swing single to left, followed by a Nate Mondou single to right. Stuart Fairchild's fly out to center put runners on the corners as Pryor was able to tag and advance. Will Craig hit a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Pryor to score to cut the lead to 4-1. After a Sheets single, Minnesota turned to reliever Brian Glowicki who recorded an inning-ending strikeout.
Wake Forest cut the lead to 4-2 in the seventh when Fairchild and Craig poked back-to-back singles and each moved up a base on a passed ball before a Sheets groundout to second scored Fairchild.
Minnesota broke the game open with four runs in the eighth on five hits.
In the ninth, Mondou was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Sheets.
Minnesota was led by Athmann who went 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Hanson added three hits, a double, and a pair of RBIs. The Golden Gophers went 6-for-17 with runners in scoring position and 8-for-17 with two outs. Wake Forest was just 2-for-14 with RISP and 3-for-12 with two down.
Gopher starter Lucas Gilbreath (4-2) went 4.2 innings of work, allowing six hits and one run while walking two and striking out four. The win went to reliever Brian Glowicki (1-4) who went 2.1 innings, allowing two hits, a run, and striking out four.
Johnstone (2-6) took the loss. He pitched 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out two. John McCarren and Donnie Sellers combined for three scoreless frames in relief, while Ben Breazeale reached base three times on a single and two walks.
The senior class finishes as the winningest of any of the seven gruaduating classes under head coach Tom Walter. Wake Forest's 35 wins are the most in a season since 2002.
