April 23, 2009

Wake Forest Game Notes

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team faces a division leader in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the second straight week as it travels to Tallahassee, Fla., for a three-game series against Atlantic Division frontrunner and No. 21 Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Friday's game will be televised on SUN Sports, while Saturday's contest will be available on ACC Select. An audio broadcast of all three games of the series can be found at WakeForestSports.com and Friday and Saturday's game will be on 98.1 WBRF-FM.

The Deacs will look to continue their road success in the ACC. Wake Forest has taken two of three in its last two road series, winning the series at Duke March 27-29 and at Virginia Tech April 3-5.

Wake Forest enters the weekend on a five-game losing streak and with an overall record of 20-20 and 6-15 in the ACC. In its most recent conference play, the Deacs were swept by Georgia Tech last weekend. Wake dropped a midweek game at High Point on Tuesday night.

Senior outfielder Weldon Woodall leads Wake Forest with a .366 batting average, which also ranks 13th in the ACC. Woodall has belted eight homers on the season and has a team-best 36 RBIs. Steven Brooks is hitting .320 on the season with three home runs and 23 RBIs.

On the mound, freshmen Austin Stadler and Zach White have been two of Wake Forest's most effective pitchers. Stadler has a 4-4 record with a 3.17 ERA, which is the eighth-best ERA in the ACC. White enters the weekend with a perfect 4-0 mark and a 3.38 ERA.

Florida State is 27-12 on the season and leads the ACC's Atlantic Division with a 12-7 record. The Seminoles enter the weekend on a six-game winning streak. FSU swept a three-game series at NC State last weekend and won a pair of games from UNC Asheville during the midweek. The Seminoles are the most patient team in the conference, drawing a league-high 244 walks. FSU also ranks second in the ACC with 57 homers. As a team, the `Noles are hitting .314.

Tyler Holt is hitting a league-best .420 with 58 runs scored, which is tied for first in the ACC, 14 doubles, five home runs and 22 RBIs. Mike McGee leads the Seminoles with an ACC-best 13 home runs and 51 RBIs and is batting .377 on the year. Stuart Tapley has hit 11 round-trippers and driven in 38 runs.

The Florida State pitching staff has a 4.74 ERA on the season. Jimmy Marshall is the team's closer, recording six saves on the season in a team-high 18 appearances. Marshall has a 3-1 record with a 3.93 ERA. Hunter Scantling has made 15 appearances, 14 out of the bullpen, and has a 2-0 record with a 2.91 ERA.

A pair of left-handed pitchers will take the mound in the series opener. Senior Garrett Bullock (1-1, 5.94) will start for Wake Forest, while Florida State will throw ACC wins leader Sean Gilmartin (7-1, 2.98).

Junior righty Phil Negus (2-3, 8.52) will take the hill for Wake Forest in Saturday's game, while the Seminoles will counter with freshman southpaw Brian Busch (2-2, 3.91).

The Demon Deacons have not announced a starter for Sunday's series finale, while Florida State is expected to start right-handed pitcher Mike McGee (3-2, 4.58).

Florida State holds a commanding 70-19 advantage in the series in games played since 1954. Wake has not won a season series against the Seminoles since 2002, and FSU has won 18 of the last 19 games played in Tallahassee.

Live stats and a recap of each game of the series will be available on WakeForestSports.com.

Weekend Schedule (Times Eastern and Subject to Change) - Tallahassee, Fla.
Friday, April 24 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 - 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 - 1 p.m.

Probable Pitching Matchups (Wake Forest vs. Florida State)
Friday, April 24
LHP Garrett Bullock (Sr., 1-1, 5.94) vs. LHP Sean Gilmartin (Fr., 7-1, 2.98)

Saturday, April 25
RHP Phil Negus (Jr., 2-3, 8.52) vs. LHP Brian Busch (Fr., 2-2, 3.91)

Sunday, April 26
TBA vs. RHP Mike McGee (So., 3-2, 4.58)

Records
Wake Forest - 20-20, 6-15 ACC
Florida State - 27-12, 12-7 ACC

Rankings
Wake Forest - Not Ranked
Florida State - No. 10 (NCBWA), No. 13 (Rivals), No. 16 (ESPN/USA Today), No. 21 (BA)

Television/Webcast
Friday's game will be televised on SUN Sports with Gene Deckerhoff and Tom Block on the call. Saturday's game will be available on ACC Select.

Radio/Internet Radio
Friday and Saturday's game will be broadcast on 98.1 WBRF-FM. All three games of the series will be available on WakeForestSports.com with Alan York on the call.

Live Stats
Live stats of all three games will be available on WakeForestSports.com.