Wake Forest Baseball Falls At Winthrop, 10-6
Demon Deacons strand 13 more base runners in loss.

Feb. 13, 2005

Final Stats

ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Wake Forest baseball team stranded 14 runners in a 10-6 loss to Winthrop in action from the Coca Cola Classic Sunday afternoon at Winthrop Baseball Stadium. The Demon Deacons drop to 1-2 on the season and have left 31 runners on base over the past two games.

Winthrop (4-0) grabbed an early two-run lead with runs in each of the first two innings. In the first inning, Daniel Carte laced a one-out single back up the middle, then moved to second with a stolen base after Hammond nearly picked him off on two separate occasions. The Eagles pushed the lead to 2-0 with an unearned run in the second inning.

Wake Forest (1-2) narrowed the deficit to a single run, 2-1, on Ben Ingold's RBI double. Matt Miller led off the second inning with a single through the right side and moved into scoring position after stealing second base. After Brett Linnenkohl flew out, Matt Antonelli walked. With runners on first and second, Ingold hammered a double off the right field wall to plate Miller.

The Deacs could have easily plated more than one run over the first three innings. Wake Forest had runners on second and third with just one out in the opening frame, but Ingold and J.B. Tucker each struckout looking. The Demon Deacons then loaded the bases in their half of the third inning after the Ingold RBI double, but Brendan Enick grounded out to end the threat.

Those missed opportunities came back to haunt the Demon Deacons after Winthrop plated seven in the bottom of the third inning. The Eagles had seven hits in the frame, including a three-run triple off the bat of Alan Robbins. Hammond departed with the Winthrop advantage at 4-1, but Wake Forest reliever Kip Byrum was not able to limit the damage as five more Eagles scored.

The Deacs did claw their way back into the game after Ingold's RBI single and Tucker's RBI double in the fifth inning, then Antonelli narrowed the deficit to 9-4 with an RBI single in the sixth inning. Once again, though, the Deacs were victimized by runners left on-base as Ingold struckout with runners on first and second to end the inning.

Wake Forest continued its climb with two more runs in the eighth inning to cut the Winthrop lead to just 9-6. Tucker drove in one with an infield single, then Ryder Mathias plated another with a sacrifice fly to right field. With runners at second and third, Enick would strikeout to end the frame.

After stranding 17 base runners on Saturday against Western Kentucky, the Deacons continued to struggle driving in runs. Wake Forest left 14 more runners on base against the Eagles. Of the13 stranded Sunday, seven were left in scoring position.

Hammond (0-1) struggled in his first start in a Demon Deacon uniform. The right-handed hurler went just 2.1 innings and allowed five earned runs on eight hits. Hammond did strikeout four without issuing a walk. Byrum went 0.2 innings and was charged with three earned runs on three hits and one walk.

Andrew Knox, also making his first career appearance for Wake Forest, was a bright spot for the Deacons. The redshirt-freshman tossed 3.0+ scoreless innings of relief and limited the Eagles to a single base hit. Senior Brian Bach also made his first appearance since a torn rotator cuff forced him to miss most of the 2004 season. Bach worked 1.1 inning with a walk and strikeout, but was charged with one unearned run.

Antonelli led the Deacs at the dish with three hits, an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Ingold went 2-for-4 with a couple RBI and a run scored, while Tucker went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

The Demon Deacons return to action for their home opener this Tuesday afternoon against the Davidson Wildcats. First-pitch at Hooks Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 pm.