Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Houston
Johnstone Tosses Shutout in Doubleheader Split
2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
HOUSTON -- The Wake Forest baseball team opened the 2017 season with a doubleheader split, defeating Nicholls 5-0 before falling to No. 20 Houston, 8-1, at Schroeder Park on Friday.
Connor Johnstone tossed a complete-game shutout in the opener, the program's first since Charlie Mellies tossed one at Florida in 2006. It also marked the first time the Demon Deacons (1-1) have allowed one hit or less since Brian Holmes tossed a no-hitter in 2012.
Offensively, Stuart Fairchild led the way by hitting .375 (3-for-8) with a homer, three RBIs and a stolen base.
Wake Forest 5, Nicholls 0
In his complete-game shutout, Johnstone (1-0) set new career-highs with 9.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts. He allowed one seeing-eye single in the third inning to Troy Cahill, walked two batters and hit three.
Stuart Fairchild broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, pulling a three-run homer over the left-field fence for the 11th homer of his career, and scoring Nick DiPonzio and Jake Mueller.
After adding an unearned run in the fourth, the Deacs capped off the scoring with a Gavin Sheets sacrifice fly to plate Jonathan Pryor in the eighth.
A sinker-baller, Johnstone forced 14 groundouts compared to just three flyouts, as well as a trio of double plays.
Cole Stapler (0-1) was tagged with the loss for Nicholls (0-1), allowing four runs (three earned) in 4.0 innings.
No. 20 Houston 8, Wake Forest 1
After four scoreless innings, on each side, Wake Forest got on the board in the fifth when Jake Mueller knocked in Johnny Aiello.
The Houston (1-0) offense then came to life, scoring seven runs over the next two innings, fueled by a trio of run-scoring hits with two outs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
Seth Romero struck out 12 for the Cougars in 6.0 innings, allowing a run on five hits without a walks. Aaron Fletcher earned the save with 3.0 scoreless frames.
After cruising through the first four innings, Deacon starter Parker Dunshee finished with 5.0-plus innings, giving up six runs and striking out five. In relief, Houston native Chris Farish struck out the only batter he faced.
Freshman Patrick Frick tallied the first two hits of his collegiate career, while Stuart Fairchild also went 2-for-4.
Grayson Padgett led Houston offensively, going 3-for-5 with a triple and four RBIs. Joe Davis, Jake Scheiner, Lael Lockhart and Jared Triolo each had two hits.
