Wake Forest University
NC State
Deacs Take Down No. 20 NC State in ACC-Opener
3/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
The Wake Forest baseball team opened ACC play by knocking off No. 20-ranked NC State, 6-4, at David F. Couch Ballpark on Friday night.
The win is the eighth straight for the Demon Deacons (11-4, 1-0 ACC), and the first win over the Wolfpack (7-7, 0-1 ACC) since 2014.
Griffin Roberts earned the save with 3.0 hitless innings in relief, maintaining what was a one-run lead when he entered the game in the top of the seventh. He struck out five batters and walked one on 42 pitches.
Gavin Sheets and Johnny Aiello each had a pair of extra-base hits, including a home run, to lead Wake Forest's offense.
The Deacs struck first in the second inning, with an Aiello RBI double, Bruce Steel sacrifice fly and Logan Harvey RBI single to take a 3-0 advantage.
After the Wolfpack got one run back in the top of the third, Sheets and Aiello both homered in the bottom of the third to extend the advantage to 5-1.
Shane Shepard hit a line-drive, three-run homer in the fourth to cut the deficit to 5-4.
Wake Forest starter Parker Dunshee responded by retiring six straight batters, including three straight strikeouts. He earned the win to improve to 3-1, allowing four runs on six hits in 6.0 innings.
Sheets knocked an RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Roberts recorded back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to close out the victory.
WALK THIS WAY
• Wake Forest hitters drew six walks in eight innings while only striking out six times. Wolfpack hitters walked four times while striking out eight.
• The Demon Deacons are averaging 4.8 walks per game.
ROBERTS LIGHTS OUT
• Wake Forest sophomore closer Griffin Roberts earned his first-career save, shutting down the Wolfpack in the final three innings, including five strikeouts.
• In 12.0 innings of work this year, he is yet to allow a run while striking out 18 batters and giving up just four hits.
STREAKIN' DEACONS
• With their eighth-straight victory, the Deacs' winning streak is the program's longest since tallying 15 straight early in the 2012 season.
ON DECK
• With inclement weather in the forecast for Sunday, Wake Forest and NC State will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
