April 7, 2010
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| Updated Season Stats
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
Wake Forest scored two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to overcome a 7-4 deficit and defeat High Point, 8-7, on Wednesday night at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
With the victory, Wake Forest improves to 10-21 on the season while High Point falls to 17-13 on the year.
Each team scored a run in the second and three runs in the fourth to make the game tied 4-4 after four innings. A three-run fifth inning for the Panthers put High Point in front 7-4. Wake Forest scored twice in both the seventh and eighth innings to rally for the 8-7 win.
Trailing 7-4, Wake Forest started to chip away at the High Point lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Bentley Heyman led off the inning with a triple, his first of the season. Pat Blair followed with a single to shallow left field, scoring Heyman. Blair advanced to second on the throw by Gantner to the plate and later moved up to third when Ryan Lloyd flew out to the warning track in right. Blair came across to score on an RBI groundout to second by Steven Brooks.
The Demon Deacons took the lead for the first time in the game with two tallies in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Mac Williamson reached first when he was hit by a pitch, and he advanced to second base on an error on a pickoff throw by pitcher Corey Swickle. Matt Conway followed with a walk, putting runners at first and second with one out. Pinch hitter Trenton Langston tied the game with a double down the right field line, scoring Williamson and sending Conway to third. During the next at bat, a pitch from reliever Spencer Andrews was in the dirt and got past the High Point catcher. Conway tried to score the go-ahead run, but was caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out for the second out of the inning. However, on the very next pitch, Andrews again threw a pitch in the dirt that got past the catcher and pinch runner John Stamper was able to score from third to put the Demon Deacons in front 8-7.
In the top of the ninth, High Point was able to get a one-out walk, but Joel Ernst retired the next two batters to give the Demon Deacons an 8-7 win.
Ernst (1-0) earned the win for Wake Forest, pitching 2.1 hitless innings, striking out two and walking two. Andrews suffered the loss for High Point, giving up a run on a hit in 0.1 of an inning.
Conway led the Demon Deacons at the plate, going 2-2 with a walk, his first collegiate home run and four RBIs. Mike Murray scored a pair of runs and went 1-for-3 in the game. Langston was 1-for-1 with an RBI.
Steve Antolik led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Murray White IV hit a home run and drove in three runs in the loss.
The Panthers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Max Fulginiti singled through the left side with one out and moved to third on a single to right field by Antolik. Andrew Bartlett grounded out to shortstop to score Fulginiti from first.
Wake Forest responded in the bottom of the second inning, tying the score at 1-1. Murray and Ryan Semeniuk led off the inning with back-to-back walks. Mac Williamson flied out to deep left-center field field, advancing Murray to third. Conway drove home Murray on an infield single to third to even the game.
High Point regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning, taking a 4-1 lead courtesy of a three-run home run by White. Antolik led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bartlett. Mike Mercurio lined out to first for the second out of the inning. After Pablo Rosario walked to put runners at first and second, White IV hit a three-run home run to left field, his fifth of the season.
The Demon Deacons answered quickly in the bottom of the fourth inning when Conway hit his first collegiate home run, a three-run shot to left field. Murray singled to right field with one out. With two outs, Williamson was hit by a pitch. Conway tied the game with a home run over the left field fence to tie the game at four.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Panthers took a 7-4 lead after scoring three runs with two outs. Fulginiti reached base with a walk, and Antolik followed with a double to the left-center field gap, scoring Fulginiti. After Antolik stole third base, he scored when Bartlett singled to center. Mercurio followed with a single of his own, scoring Bartlett, who had advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Wake Forest returns to action on Friday night, hosting No.7 Florida State in the first game of a three-game series First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
For all of the latest information on Wake Forest baseball, please log on to www.WakeForestSports.com or, for up-to-the minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account @WFUBaseball or www.twitter.com/WFUBaseball.
