March 28, 2008

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No. 2-ranked Florida State used a nine-run fifth inning to pull away from Wake Forest, en route to a 21-2 defeat of the Demon Deacons Friday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

The Deacons fall to 11-12 overall and 4-5 in the ACC. The Seminoles move to 22-2 overall and 10-0 in conference play with their sixth straight win.

FSU plated nine runs in the fifth and six more in the seventh to break the game wide open. Wake was able to score on an Allan Dykstra solo homer in the second and an RBI single from Austin Jones in the fifth.

Jones, Evan Ocheltree and Weldon Woodall each finished with two hits apiece. Jones went 2-for-2 with an RBI, and Ocheltree was 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run. Woodall finished 2-for-4. Dykstra hit his eighth home run of the season and was walked twice.

Ocheltree also had a highlight-reel catch defensively. He robbed Tyler Everett of a grand slam in the ninth inning by leaping at the wall to make the catch in the bushes behind the fence.

Florida State took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jason Stidham and Buster Posey hit back-to-back one-out home runs to rightfield, both lofting deep fly balls over the fence. It was the first time a Wake Forest opponent has hit consecutive homers since Elon did it on April 11, 2006.

Dykstra responded for Wake in the second inning, leading off the frame with a solo home run to rightfield, his eighth of the season. It was the first time FSU starter Matt Fairel has allowed a homer this season.

The Seminoles scored three in the third courtesy of a two-out rally. Posey reached on a walk, and Jack Rye followed with a single up the middle. Dennis Guinn cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left, giving FSU a 5-1 lead.

Florida State exploded for nine runs in the fifth inning. The Seminoles pounded out seven hits in the rally, including a two-run home run by Posey. Wake Forest starter Ben Hunter allowed seven of the nine runs, while reliever Ryan Bouton was on the hook for the other two.

The Noles added six more runs in the seventh. Rye had a two-run homer, and Stuart Tapley and Luke Smierciak had RBI doubles in the rally.

FSU scored one in the ninth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Everett. Ocheltree robbed Everett of a grand slam on the play, leaping at the wall to make the catch in the bushes.

Deacon starter Ben Hunter (1-4) took the loss. Hunter went 4 1/3 innings, giving up 12 runs on 11 hits and five walks.

Bouton allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Greg Young pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up one run on two hits.

FSU starter Matt Fairel (6-0) earned the win, going six innings on the day. The lefty allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Everett picked up his first save of the season by pitching the final three innings of the game.

Guinn, Posey and Stidham each drove in three runs to lead the Seminoles at the plate.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Semeniuk made his collegiate debut with a pinch hit appearance in the seventh inning.

In addition to Ocheltree's grand slam-saving catch in the ninth, Nathan Frazier made a couple of nice defensive plays at third base.

Wake Forest and Florida State will meet in game two of the weekend series on Saturday. LHP Garrett Bullock (2-1, 7.01) is set to start for the Deacs. RHP Geoff Parker (2-0, 1.86) will make his first start of the season for the Seminoles. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.