April 13, 2012
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Georgia Tech threatened in the ninth, scoring twice and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate, but Wake Forest dodged the rally and won the opener of the ACC series at Gene Hooks Field, 4-2, Friday night in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Demon Deacons pushed across four unearned runs in the sixth inning and spoiled another quality start from junior Buck Farmer, who fanned eight with one walk in six innings of work. Wake improved to 21-14 overall and 6-10 in the ACC, while Tech slipped to 20-15, 6-10.
Jake Davies, who finished with two hits, got the ninth inning started with a ground-rule double to left off closer Mike Dimock. Davies moved to third on a ground out, and scored thanks to an infield single from Daniel Palka. Another ground out moved Palka to second and an error put runners at the corners with two outs.
Pinch-hitter Daniel Spingola brought Palka home with an infield single to make the score 4-2, but Dimock got a fly out from Kyle Wren to preserve the win for starter Tim Cooney.
Palka, Davies, Brandon Thomas and Thomas Smith each had two hits for the Jackets, who lost for just the second time this season (19-2) when out-hitting the opposition.
Tech had plenty of chances early to give Farmer a lead, but the visitors stranded a pair in the first after back-to-back singles, left two more on in the second after two more hits and had a pair of runners picked off in the fourth inning.
Two defensive miscues proved even more costly in the sixth as the Demon Deacons pushed across four unearned runs to take the lead for good. Farmer got Carlos Lopez swinging for what would have been the first out, but the ball got by the catcher and Lopez reached on a passed ball.
Farmer then set down the next two Deacons via strikeouts, but a single from James Harris, followed by a two-run double to left from Brett Armour made it 2-0. Evan Stephens reached on a bunt single, and a ground ball to short from Pat Blair appeared to end the inning, but a throwing error allowed two more to score.
Cooney settled in after the early trouble, was bolstered by the run support in the sixth and picked up his fourth win of the season (4-3). The lefty, who picked off three Jackets in the game, allowed nine hits, with no walks and five strikeouts in his eight-inning effort.
The series continues Saturday at Gene Hooks Field at 4 p.m.
