Virginia Tech Takes Series With 13-4 Defeat of Deacons
Nathan Frazier turns in first career multi-hit performance

April 12, 2008

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Virginia Tech pounded out 16 hits to cruise to a 13-4 defeat of Wake Forest and clinch the weekend series against the Demon Deacons Saturday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

With the loss, Wake falls to 12-21 overall and 5-11 in the ACC. The Hokies move to 15-20 overall and 3-14 in conference play with their seventh win in their last nine games.

The Deacons fell victim to the big inning for the second time in as many days. On Friday, Virginia Tech used a five-run fifth to take control of the game. On Saturday, the Hokies scored four in the third and seven more in the eighth to earn the win.

The turning point for Wake Forest came in the third when the Deacons failed to convert on a would-be rally. Trailing 4-2, Ben Terry and Mike Murray reached on one-out singles. After the duo moved up on stolen bases, an intentional walk to Allan Dykstra loaded the bases with two outs. Virginia Tech then went to reliever Justin Wright, pulling starter Andrew Wells after just 2 2/3 innings. The moved worked, as Wright got a flyout to end the inning.

Wright (2-0) then went on to shut the Deacons down over 4 1/3 innings, earning a win in the process. He allowed two hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

After the Deacs stranded three in the third, not one runner reached scoring position until a two-run rally in the ninth inning.

Nathan Frazier was the only Wake Forest hitter with more than one hit, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI to turn in his first career multi-hit game. Allan Dykstra, Terry and Weldon Woodall tallied an RBI apiece for the Deacs.

Starter Charlie Mellies (0-4) suffered the loss for Wake. The senior allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks. He came within one strikeout of his career-high, finishing with seven punchouts on Saturday.

Wake Forest got on top early with a pair of runs in the first. Willy Fox led off the inning with a walk and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Terry. One out later, Woodall singled up the middle to drive in Fox. Dykstra followed with a double into the leftfield corner to score Woodall from first and give the Deacs a 2-0 lead.

Virginia Tech answered with four runs in the top of the third. Michael Seaborn reached on a leadoff single. One out later, Tony Balisteri homered on a 1-0 pitch from Mellies, tying the score at 2-2. Sean O'Brien followed with a single before Mellies got the second out of the inning. However, Sean Ryan hit the first pitch he saw to leftfield for a two-run home run.

The Hokies added two more runs off Mellies in the seventh. Steve Bumbry and Balisteri led off the frame with a single and double, putting runners at second and third with no outs. O'Brien followed with a single to right to plate both runners. Alex Wiesner came on in relief of Mellies and worked the Deacons out of the jam.

Tech, however, got to Wiesner an inning later. The Hokies rallied for seven runs in the inning, blowing the game wide open. Austin Wates reached on a leadoff single and came around to score all the way from first on an ensuing double from Jose Cueto. Seaborn then hit the first pitch he saw from Wiesner to right center for a two-run homer.

Bumbry kept the rally alive with a walk. A pair of strikeouts later, Bumbry scored on Ryan's double to left off Ryan Bouton. Two more walks loaded the bases for Wates, who responded with a bases-clearing triple off the wall in centerfield. Matt Hammond entered as the Deacons' third pitcher of the inning. Hammond quickly got a flyout to end the rally, but the damage was done as Virginia Tech held a 13-2 advantage.

Wake Forest would not go quietly in the ninth, rallying for a pair of runs. Andy Goff led off with a double to left, and Ryan Semeniuk reached on a hit by pitch. Frazier followed with a double to left of his own, scoring Goff. One out later, Terry drove in Semeniuk with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing the final score to 13-4.

Hammond pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

Fox extended his hitting streak to eight games, while Murray and Woodall moved their respective streaks to six games. Dustin Hood saw his six-game hitting come to an end.

Wake Forest shuffled its starting lineup in an attempt to get the offense going. Terry was out of the leadoff spot for the first time this season, as Fox shifted to the spot. Murray and Woodall hit in the three and four holes, while Dykstra was dropped to fifth in the order.

Semeniuk made his first career start, coming into the game with just one at-bat this season. The redshirt freshman finished 1-for-3 with a run and played an error-free leftfield.

Virginia Tech starter Andrew Wells received a no-decision, pitching 2 2/3 innings on the day. The lefty allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Balisteri and Wates led the Hokies at the plate with three hits apiece. Balisteri fell a triple short of the cycle, while Wates finished with three RBIs.

Wake Forest and Virginia Tech will meet in the third and final game of the weekend series on Sunday. RHP Ben Hunter (1-5, 6.96) is scheduled to start for the Deacons. The Hokies have yet to name a starting pitcher. Either RHP Sean McDermott (1-3, 5.59) or LHP Jesse Hahn (2-3, 4.33) will make the start for Tech. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Hooks Stadium.