Deacons Drop Season Opener at Rice, 13-5
Sterk doubles twice and drives in three runs

HOUSTON -- The Wake Forest baseball team dropped its season opener to the defending national champion Rice, 13-5, on Friday night at Reckling Park in Houston.

The Deacons struggled out of the gate as Rice's All-American pitcher Philip Humber struck out each of Wake Forest's first six batters and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. With two outs in the fifth, J.B. Tucker lined a single into center field.

Sophomore left fielder Casey Sterk, making his second career start, was the offensive star for the Demon Deacons. He went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Doug Riepe blasted a pinch hit home run in the ninth inning.

Rice scored the game's first ten runs before the Deacon bats came alive. In the sixth inning, Sterk doubled down the right field line and then scored on a Nick Blue RBI single.

In the seventh inning, Steve LeFaivre led off with a double off the wall in right-center field. After Tucker walked, Antonelli had an infield single to load the bases. Two batters later, Sterk lined another double, this time into the left field corner to clear the bases, cutting the lead to 10-4.

Junior Tim Morley made the start for Wake Forest and was charged with the loss. Morley surrendered four earned runs through 3 2/3 innings. He wasn't given much help defensively as the Deacon defense committed two errors behind him. The miscues resulted in three earned runs.

The starting lineup barely bore little resemblance to the 2002 opening day lineup. Only Steve LeFaivre and Brad Scioletti were in the lineup last year, but at different positions.

Six Deacons made their Wake Forest debuts on Friday night including second baseman Matt Antonelli, centerfielder Matt Miller and catcher J.B. Tucker who were in the starting lineup and Brian Shust who pinch-hit in the ninth inning. Freshmen Josh Ellis and Charlie Mellies came out of the bullpen.

Wake Forest lost its season opener for the first time since 2000 when the Deacons fell to Miami. Coincidentally, the Hurricanes were also the defending national champions that season.

The Owls won their fourth consecutive game against the Deacons. Last time Wake Forest played Rice at Reckling Park in 2002, the Owls won 15-5. That Deacon squad finished 47-13-1 and reached an NCAA Regional.