April 11, 2008

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Virginia Tech's five-run fifth inning proved to be the difference in the Hokies' 7-3 defeat of Wake Forest Friday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

The Demon Deacons drop to 12-20 overall and 5-10 in the ACC with the loss. The Hokies, winners of six of their past eight games, move to 14-20 overall and 2-14 in conference play.

Virginia Tech broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the fifth inning. The rally was capped by Anthony Sosnoskie's three-run home run off starter Garrett Bullock.

Wake Forest scored two in the fifth to cut into the deficit, but ultimately the Deacons could not catch up. The Hokies put the game out of reach with two runs in the ninth inning.

Virginia Tech starter Rhett Ballard (2-3) pitched a complete game to earn the win. In just his second start of the season, the sidearm-throwing righthander stymied the Deacs, giving up three runs, two earned, on eight hits. He struck out nine and walked just two. Ballard threw 132 pitches on the day.

Bullock (3-3) suffered the loss for the Deacs. The lefty pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on 11 hits. Bullock struck out six and walked none. He allowed just one runner to reach scoring position over the first four innings, but Bullock could not get out of the fifth unscathed.

Phil Negus pitched well in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. The righthander held Virginia Tech without a hit while striking out one and walking one. He came on for Bullock in the seventh with runners at the corners and one out. Negus worked the Deacs out of the jam, retiring the next two batters in order.

Mike Murray and Weldon Woodall each homered to lead the Deacs at the plate. Murray hit a two-run shot in the sixth, his third of the season. Woodall led off the ninth with a pinch hit home run, his first of the year.

Virginia Tech opened the scoring with its five-run fifth inning. Austin Wates led off with a single and then moved to third on a Michael Seaborn double. With runners at second and third and nobody out, Bullock got Brandon Lower to strike out looking for the first out. Tony Balisteri then hit a slow grounder to shortstop. Andy Goff came up throwing to home to get Wates trying to score.

However, the Hokies had consecutive singles by Sean O'Brien and Sean Ryan to plate two runs. Sosnoskie followed with a towering three-run home run to left field, giving Tech a 5-0 lead.

Wake Forest battled back with two runs in the sixth, courtesy of Murray's homer. Willy Fox reached on a throwing error to start the inning. One out later, the lefthanded-hitting Murray went the opposite way, launching a 3-2 offering from Ballard to left center. The ball sailed over the fence just in front of the scoreboard.

The Hokies added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth against Brad Kledzik. Balisteri reached on a leadoff walk, and Ryan followed with a single one out later. Sosnoskie and Klint Reed then hit back-to-back doubles to plate both runners and give the visitors a 7-2 advantage.

The Deacons pushed one across in the ninth on Woodall's homer. Pinch hitting for Steven Brooks, Woodall led off the frame by hitting an 0-1 pitch from Ballard into the trees in leftfield. Ballard recovered to send the next three Deacon hitters down in order.

Brett Linnenkohl, who had missed time with a leg injury, was in the starting lineup for the first time in 16 games. He beat out an infield single in the third to extend his hitting streak to four games.

Fox extended his hitting streak to a season-best seven games with an infield single of his own in the third. Hood pushed hit hitting streak to six games, while Murray moved his to five games.

Ryan and Sosnoskie led Tech at the plate. Ryan went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, while Sosnoskie was 2-for-5 with four RBIs. Wates finished with three hits on the day.

Wake Forest will look to even up the three-game series with Virginia Tech on Saturday. RHP Charlie Mellies (0-3, 5.83) will take the mound for the Deacons, while the Hokies will start LHP Andrew Wells (0-3, 5.96). The game will be broadcast live on FSN. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.