April 16, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest scored four unanswered runs over the third and fourth inning, and held on late to defeat the ninth-ranked Georgia Tech baseball team, 6-4, Saturday night at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
The win was just the second for Wake Forest (14-22, 6-11 ACC) in the last 16 games against Georgia Tech (26-10, 13-4 ACC), and ended the Demon Deacons seven-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets.
Wake Forest plated all six runs with just six hits in the game, taking advantage of two decisive unearned runs in the third frame. Tech lost for the just the fourth time this season when out-hitting its opponent. The Jackets finished the day with 11 base hits, led by three apiece from junior Jacob Esch and sophomore Sam Dove.
Tech starter Jed Bradley (3-2) yielded just four hits in five innings of work, but lost for the second-straight game after allowing five runs (three earned) on the day.
Bradley recorded eight strikeouts, but had some control issues after walking four batters and hitting two more. The junior hurler issued two freebies that eventually led to the first two runs of the game for Wake Forest.
After Steven Brooks drew a walk to start the third inning, Wake Forest took advantage of a throwing error by Bradley to score to score a pair of unearned runs and grab a 3-2 lead. Mac Williamson hit a grounder back to the mound, but Bradley’s throw to first baseman Jake Davies sailed high and to the outfield, scoring Brooks on the two base error. Carlos Lopez hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score the other run on the next at-bat.
The unearned runs would erase a 2-1 advantage for the Jackets after Esch’s solo home run to left field in the top half of the frame.
Wake Forest grabbed its largest lead of the game at 5-2, with a pair of RBI hits by Mark Rhine and Williamson in the fourth inning.
The Jackets cut the lead to 5-4 on a RBI single by Matt Skole in the fifth, and a solo home run to right field by freshman Zane Evans in the sixth. It was the first home run of the season for Evans.
Wake Forest’s James Harris added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning, with a pinch-hit home run to right field off of Tech reliever Dusty Isaacs.
Wake Forest starter Tim Cooney (4-2) earned the victory after scattering four runs on nine hits over 7 1/3 innings. Cooney had eight strikeouts in the win.
Tech put runners on the corner with two outs in the ninth, but Demon Deacon relief pitcher Michael Dimock got Skole to popup to shortstop and end the game. Dimock picked up his second save of the season.
“We didn’t do a whole lot today,” head coach Danny Hall said. “We pitched it very poorly early. I thought Jed Bradley gave them a bunch of runs by walking guys and making a big error.
“All told, we had a chance to get back into it but couldn’t execute. We struck out way too many times. We have a chance tomorrow to win the series, so we need to regroup and be ready to go.”
The series concludes with the rubber-match on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
