Deacons Beat Florida State in Dramatic Fashion, 7-5
Ghutzman's Pinch-Hit, Two-Run Ninth Inning Home Run Lifts Wake Forest to Victory

March 31, 2002

Box Score

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Stephen Ghutzman's two-run, pinch hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave 8th-ranked Wake Forest a thrilling 7-5 victory over visiting Florida State on a rainy, windy Sunday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

With the win, Wake Forest captured the weekend series and improved to 22-5 overall, 6-2 in the ACC. Florida State slid to 28-10, 3-6 in the league.

Trailing virtually the entire game, the Deacons found themselves down 5-3 after seven innings with a light, but steady rain falling. Wake Forest rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning. Adam Bourassa, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday, lined a two-run, two-out double scoring Ingold from third and Ryan Hubbard, who came all the way around from first.

Dave Bush, who came on with two outs in the eighth inning, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with a strikeout. He earned credit for his third win of the season, improving his season record to 3-1 while making his 20th appearance of the season. He needs 20 more to become the NCAA's all-time leader in that category.

With one out in the ninth, Jamie D'Antona reached on a flare into right center field. The teams' head coaches played a chess match as Ryan Braun was sent up to pinch hit for Steve LeFaivre. After Daniel Hodges pitched a ball to Braun, the Seminoles brought Eric Roman out of the bullpen.

The Deacons countered with Ghutzman off the bench, pinch-hitting for Braun. Ghutzman clocked the first pitch he saw from Roman over the wall in right-center field, giving the Deacons the win. It was Ghutzman's the first home run of the season and the only time all day that Wake Forest held a lead.

Brian Bach started and went 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs. Seth Hill pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief before handing it over to Bush in the eighth.

Daniel Hodges (2-1) suffered the loss as the Seminoles dropped back-to-back ACC series for the first time since 1995.

The Demon Deacons are now 12-1 in games decided by two runs or less. Wake Forest will head to the Gate City on Tuesday to play UNC Greensboro at 6:00 p.m.

Wake Forest's next ACC game will be Friday afternoon at Hooks Stadium against first place North Carolina.