Deacs Down Virginia Tech, 5-2, Behind Bullock's Pitching
Wake now controls its own destiny in bid for ACC Tournament berth

May 17, 2007

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Garrett Bullock pitched eight strong innings, not allowing a base hit past the fourth, and Allan Dykstra hit his 17th home run of the year to lead Wake Forest to a 5-2 defeat of Virginia Tech Thursday evening at English Field.

The win puts the Demon Deacons in the driver's seat in the race for the final spot in next week's ACC Tournament. Wake came into the weekend tied with Boston College and needed to win one more game than the Eagles. BC fell 5-4 to Virginia in 10 innings Thursday afternoon, giving the Deacs the chance to control their own destiny. Wake Forest can secure a bid to the eight-team tournament by winning its final two games against the Hokies. A Deacon win coupled with an Eagle loss would also put Wake into the postseason field.

Thursday's win moved Wake to 30-24 overall and 13-15 in the ACC. The Deacons reached the 30-win plateau for the second straight season and the 17th time overall. It is the first time Wake has had back-to-back 30+ win seasons since 2001-02. Virginia Tech dropped to 22-30 overall and 6-22 in conference play with the loss.

The Demon Deacon offense spotted Bullock a 3-0 lead after the first two innings, and the sophomore lefty made it hold up. The Hokies scored a run in each the third and fourth, but Bullock was spotless from there on. He did not allow a hit the rest of the way, retiring the final 11 batters he faced.

On the night, Bullock (4-1) allowed two runs on five hits in eight innings of work. He had five strikeouts and two walks.

Bullock gave way to closer Josh Ellis to start the ninth. Ellis recorded his eighth save of the season by striking out the side and closing the door on a game lasted just over two hours.

Wake Forest rallied with two outs for a pair of runs in the first inning. Virginia Tech starter Greg Fryman pitched around Dykstra, walking the sophomore slugger on four pitches. Willy Fox cashed in on the walk by doubling to right center to drive in Dykstra from first. Dustin Hood followed with a single to shallow center, scoring Fox for the early 2-0 lead.

The Deacs added another run off Fryman the following inning. Evan Ocheltree led off with a double to left center and then scored on Andy Goff's single up the middle.

The Hokies got on the board with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Bullock hit Nate Parks to put a runner aboard with two outs. Bullock looked to have Parks picked off first, but his move was ruled a balk and Parks moved to second. Bullock then hit Bryan Thomas on a 3-2 pitch, putting two on for Warren Schaeffer. Schaeffer followed by dumping a single into left to score Parks and cut Wake's lead to 3-1.

Wake Forest got the run back in the top of the fourth. Fryman issued Goff a leadoff walk and then moved him to second on a wild pitch. After Dan Rosaia moved Goff to third on a groundout, Brett Linnenkohl drove him in with an RBI groundout to second.

Virginia Tech countered with another run in its half of the fourth, cutting Wake's lead to 4-2. Anthony Sosnoskie hooked an 0-1 offering from Bullock just inside the leftfield foul pole for a solo home run to lead off the frame. After Jose Cueto followed with a sliding double down the rightfield line, Bullock had to work his way out of the jam. The lefty struck out the next two batters and then got Parks to fly out to right two batters later.

The score remained 4-2 until Wake Forest scored a single run in the seventh. Fryman had retired eight Deacon hitters in a row until Dykstra led off the seventh with a solo home run to right, his 17th of the season.

Dykstra finished the night 1-for-2 with two runs and a pair of walks. Fox went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Linnenkohl extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a second-inning single.

Fryman (2-10) went the distance in the loss for Virginia Tech. The righthander allowed five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Schaeffer led the Hokies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Wake Forest and Virginia Tech will square off in the second game of the series on Friday evening. RHP Brad Kledzik (4-3, 5.09) is set to go for the Deacons, while LHP Andrew Wells (3-4, 4.82) will start for the Hokies. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.