NC State Takes Series with 3-2 Win Over Wake Forest
Demon Deacons can't get bats going after Saturday's offensive outburst

March 25, 2007

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After scoring 16 runs and pounding out 19 hits on Saturday, Wake Forest could not get the bats going on Sunday, as NC State took the series with a 3-2 win over the Demon Deacons at Hooks Stadium.

Wake Forest collected just seven hits on Sunday and left 11 runners on base. The Demon Deacons struck out 11 times in the game, including nine against Wolfpack starter Jimmy Gillheeney.

Deacon starter Eric Niesen kept Wake in the game with his second straight start allowing just two earned runs. Niesen (2-3) tied his career-high with eight strikeouts, which he set last weekend at Florida State. The lefty went six innings and gave up two runs on six hits and four walks.

The Wake Forest offense struggled to come through with the big hit, though, leaving two runners on in each the eighth and ninth innings.

NC State was able to push across just enough runs for the win. The Wolfpack got a run off Niesen in the first inning to take the early lead.

The Deacs tied the score at 1-1 in the second. Andy Goff and Austin Jones hit back-to-back, two-out doubles to plate the run.

State's Caleb Mangum gave the visitors the lead back with a solo home run to left field to lead off the fifth against Niesen.

The Wolfpack added an insurance run off reliever Phil Negus in the seventh, manufacturing the run after Ryan Pond was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame.

Wake Forest was able to cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run off NCSU closer Eryk McConnell in the eighth. Willy Fox slapped a one-out hit through the left side, and Evan Ocheltree singled to the same spot two batters later.

With runners on first and second, Eric Williams responded with a single to center, plating Fox. That was all the Deacons got, however, as pinch hitter Tyler Smith grounded out to end the threat with runners stranded at second and third.

The Demon Deacons rallied in the ninth, as pinch hitter Michael Murray led off with a single and then advanced to second on a Brett Linnenkohl sacrifice.

One out later, NC State elected to intentionally walk Allan Dykstra to put two runners on for Fox. However, the junior third baseman grounded out to end the game.

Williams led Wake Forest at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Fox extended his hitting streak to 15 games with his single in the eighth inning.

Joel Ernst and Ben Hunter each had scoreless outings out of the bullpen. Ernst pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing one hit, while Hunter went 1 1/3 and allowed one hit with two strikeouts.

Gillheeney (2-1) earned the win for State, going 5 2/3 innings. The lefty allowed one run on three hits with nine strikeouts and three walks.

McConnell earned his sixth save of the season, pitching 1 1/3 innings. Wake was the first to score an earned run off McConnell in 14 appearances this season.

Mangum led the Wolfpack at the plate, finishing the day 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Wake Forest returns to action on Wednesday, March 28, when it hosts Winthrop at 3 p.m. The game will be a re-match between the Deacons and Eagles after Wake beat Winthrop 10-8 last Wednesday in Rock Hill, S.C.