Deacs Fall in Series Opener Against Clemson

CLEMSON, S.C. - Wake Forest fell by a final score of 5-2 in an Atlantic Coast Conference series opener at Clemson on Friday evening at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The Deacs (13-18, 6-15 ACC) snatched a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning after passed balls plated Adam Cecere and Lucas Costello, scoring the game's first runs in three innings of action. The Tigers (16-18, 10-12) immediately responded with a run of their own in the home half of the frame to tie the game at 2.

Clemson regained the lead in the seventh with two runs produced by an RBI-single and a throwing error. The Tigers added another run on an RBI-double in the eighth to increase their advantage to three and score the final run of the contest.

Ryan Cusick started on the mound and threw 6.1 innings, striking out seven batters while giving up three earned runs in his eighth start of the season. The Sudbury Mass. native tossed three-straight scoreless innings and tallied four-consecutive punch outs in the first inning and second innings.

Shane Muntz led the Deacs at the plate with a double and a single, his fifth multi-hit performance of his junior season. Michael Turconi, Pierce Bennett and Adam Cecere also sprinkled in base knocks.

Hunter Furtado took over for Cusick with one out in the sixth as the lefty tossed two strikeouts while allowing just one hit. Teddy McGraw was the third arm to hit the hill, inducing two outs in the eighth inning while giving up one earned run.

How It Happened

After a leadoff strikeout, Michael Turconi reached base after being hit by a pitch. The Tigers ended the opening frame by throwing Turconi out trying to steal second and the second strikeout of the inning.
Clemson jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after a leadoff double and a walk.
- Ryan Cusick struck out a pair of batters in his first inning of work.
- Shane Muntz tried to throw out a Tiger attempting to steal second, when the runner on third advanced home to score the game's first run.
Shane Muntz knocked in the Deacs' first hit of the game with a single to left field with two outs, but the next batter struck out to end the inning.
Cusick recorded two more strikeouts in a hitless second inning to keep it a 1-0 game.
- The right-hander fanned four-straight batters (last two batters in the first, first two batters in the second)
- Clemson reached base with two outs after the third batter of the frame was hit by a pitch.
The Deacs placed runners on first and third with two outs after a Pierce Bennett leadoff single and bunt single from Michael Turconi. Bennett advanced to third on the throw to first. Clemson ended the scoring threat after forcing a fly out to left field.
The bottom of the third inning ended with a double play as Michael Turconi made a diving catch and fired the ball to first for the third and final out.
- Clemson registered an in-field single following a pop out to Shane Muntz in foul territory.
Muntz doubled to right field with two outs, his second hit of the game, but Clemson induced a fly out to end the scoring threat and hold onto their 1-0 lead.
A perfect fourth inning from Cusick on the mound kept Clemson's lead at 1-0. To end the inning, Cusick fanned his fifth batter of the game.
Wake Forest took a 2-1 lead after back-to-back passed balls plated Adam Cecere and Lucas Costello.
- Cecere (leadoff walk), Costello (hit by pitch) and Michael Turconi (walk) loaded the bases with one out.
The Tigers responded with an RBI-single with two outs to tie the game at 2 after five full innings.
After a pair of strikeouts to begin the inning, Brendan Tinsman walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Another strikeout ended the inning to keep the score tied at 2.
Cusick continued to deal, tossing his fourth scoreless frame with back-to-back fly outs to end the sixth inning.
- The Tigers knocked in a leadoff single and then reached on a fielder's choice for the first out.
Costello reached base after recording a walk with one out in the top of the seventh. After a strikeout, Costello advanced to second base before a ground out ended the inning.
Clemson regained the lead (4-2) with two runs in the seventh inning thanks to an RBI single and a throwing error.
- After striking out his seventh batter of the game, Cusick was replaced by Hunter Furtado with runners on first and second.
- Furtado struck out a pair of Tigers for the final pair of outs.
After the Deacs were retired in order in the top of the eighth, Clemson plated the final run of the game and increased their lead to 5-2 with a RBI double down the left field line.
- Teddy McGraw took over the pitching duties with one out in the frame. Following a pair of doubles, the freshman induced a fly out to end the inning.
Adam Cecere tallied a base hit down the right field line in the top of the ninth with one out. The Tigers sat down the next two Demon Deacon batters to preserve their lead and claim a 5-2 victory.

Words from Walter
"Just gave away a few too many runs. Gave away a run in the first with two outs, and with a hitter with 25 at-bats on the year. The second run, we got squeezed a little bit there on the walk to (Adam) Hackenberg, and then they ran a hit and run. We gave away three runs early and didn't get it done offensively with five hits on the day and had some chances with some men on base. Not a ton of chances, but just didn't really cash in."

On Deck
The Deacs and Tigers continue the series on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. live on ACC Network Extra before hitting the diamond in the finale on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. inside Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

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Wake Forest Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Pierce Bennett

Adam Cecere

Lucas Costello

Ryan Cusick

Hunter Furtado

Teddy McGraw

Shane Muntz

Brendan Tinsman

Michael Turconi

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