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Virginia Baseball Falls To Wake Forest, 9-8
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April 6, 2001
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest baseball team overcame an 8-4 deficit to capture a 9-8 victory on Friday at Gene Hooks Stadium. The Demon Deacons scored one in the seventh and four in the eighth capped by Ryan Johnson’s pinch-hit sacrafice fly to earn the victory. Wake Forest improves to 21-10 overall and 7-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Wake Forest blasted three home runs on the day, including two by senior third baseman Corey Slavik. Matt Price cranked his first of the season, a solo shot to straight away center field, in the second inning.
Freshman Adam Hanson earned his fourth win of the season in relief. Once the Deacons claimed a lead, Hanson gave way to junior closer Dave Bush who earned his seventh save of the season. Bush has 16 career saves, tied for second place all-time. He needs just one more to tie Keith Ksansnak for the school record.
Wake Forest fell behind 8-4 as Virginia posted three runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run home run by Dan Street (2-3, 3 RBI, run), before adding two more in the sixth. The Cavaliers had four other players finish with two hits apiece after Eric Christensen (2-4, 2 runs), Mark Rueffert (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs, double), Doug Vroman (2-5, double, run) and Hunter Wyant (2-5, double, run) each helped shoulder the offensive load for UVa.
But in the seventh, Carlos Brackley’s infield ground out scored Jamie D’Antona to set the stage for the eighth inning rally. The Deacons sent ten batters to the plate and plated four runs on four hits to get a one-run lead.
Price and Jason Aquilante led off with singles before Cory Sullivan doubled to score Price. Nick Blue grounded out, scoring Aquilante. D’Antona singled to left to bring in Sullivan. After a pitching change, a hit batsman and a walk, the bases were loaded for Johnson. His sacrafice fly proved to be the game-winning RBI as D’Antona scored from third.
“We got some important hits at important times today and that was the difference. In recent games, we haven’t been getting the clutch hits. That’s what makes this one a good win,” head coach George Greer said. “The Friday game is an important one to win because it sets the tone for the rest of the weekend and takes the pressure off right away. We want to carry this momentum through the rest of the weekend.”
UVa’s Brandon Creswell pitched 7.0 innings before being relieved by Jeff Kamrath (1-1), who took the loss for the Cavaliers.
The two teams will reconvene at Hooks Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Senior Josh Bartlett gets the ball for Wake Forest. Saturday’s game, as well as Sunday’s contest, will air on WTRU 830 AM and on the internet at www.wakeforestsports.com.