March 25, 2003

Box Score

Winston-Salem, N.C. -- The 19th-ranked Wake Forest baseball team drew 17 walks from High Point pitchers as the Deacons snapped a two-game losing streak with an 18-3 win on Tuesday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

Junior Adam Hanson made his first career start after 69 relief appearances in his first three seasons with the Deacons. Hanson, the team's top setup man for the past two years and a Cape Cod All-Star closer in 2002, went a career-long six innings, allowed three runs on seven hits with a career-best tying six strikeouts. He earned the win to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Wake Forest walked eight times in the first inning and scored nine runs on just one hit. High Point starter Brent Sportsman issued all of the free passes, was charged with nine earned runs. He lasted just one-third of an inning and took the loss to fall to 0-1.

The first four hitters in the Deacon first walked to give Wake Forest a lead before anyone even put the ball in play. Then, Steve LeFaivre lined a two-run single down the right field line to stretch the lead to three. After Brad Scioletti's RBI groundout, the next five batters reached via walk or hit by pitch, including Bourassa's second walk of the inning.

By the end of the first, the Deacons collected eight walks, three hit batsman and a balk to take a commanding 9-0 lead.

Eight different Wake Forest players walked, led by Bourassa's four. Ben Ingold reached five times with three hits. Jeff Ruziecki was not retired during the game. He had two hits, walked twice and was hit by pitch.

The game was also marked by the return of Ryder Mathias behind the plate. The team's returning starter at catcher was in the starting lineup for the first time this spring after recovering from shoulder surgery. He went 0-for-4 at the plate but scored twice and had one RBI.

Wake Forest continues its five-game homestand on Wednesday night. The Deacons will host UNC Greensboro at Ernie Shore Field at 6:00 p.m. Sophomore Brian Bach will get the start for the Deacs.