Wake Forest Lets Early Lead Slip Away in 8-7 Loss at High Point
Dykstra and Smith both homer, but Deacons blow early 6-0 lead

April 17, 2007

Box Score

HIGH POINT, N.C. - Wake Forest let another mid-week win slip away late, blowing a 6-0 lead in an 8-7 loss to High Point Tuesday evening at the newly-dedicated Williard Stadium.

The Demon Deacons looked as if they would spoil the dedication game of the Panthers' new stadium, scoring six runs over the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead. However, High Point's lefty reliever R.J. Chlebnikow completely shut down Wake Forest over the middle innings to set the stage for a Panther comeback.

High Point rallied for six runs in the seventh inning, the final five coming across unearned, to take a 7-6 lead.

After Wake tied it in the eighth, Chris Norwood hit his second home run of the game in the bottom half of the frame to give the Panthers the 8-7 comeback victory.

The Deacons drop to 21-19 overall with the loss, while the Panthers improve to 20-20 with the win.

Allan Dykstra and Tyler Smith each homered to help build an early 6-0 cushion for Wake Forest starter Joel Ernst. Ernst did his part to make the lead stand up, cruising through the first five innings with just three Panthers reaching base.

However, Ernst ran into trouble in the sixth and seventh innings. A one-out walk and a pair of singles gave High Point its first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth.

Ernst pitched his way out of the sixth but couldn't do so in the fateful seventh. The Panthers scored six runs, five unearned, off Ernst and reliever Phil Negus. Norwood led off with a solo home run on the first pitch of the inning.

One out later, a Dustin Hood throwing error put Alfie Wheeler on base with one out. Robby Kuzdale followed with a single to chase Ernst. Jeff Cowan and Bill Manion then hit back-to-back singles off Negus to score Wheeler.

A Randy Schwartz sacrifice fly drove in Kuzdale to cut the Wake Forest lead to 6-4. Pinch hitter Tucker Stobbe put the finishing touches on the rally, blasting a three-run home run to right center to give High Point a 7-6 lead.

Despite getting consecutive singles from Dykstra and Michael Murray to lead off the top of the eighth, the Deacs could only manage to push the tying run across in the inning. Two outs after Murray's single, Hood drove in Dykstra with a single to right.

Norwood made the Deacs pay in the bottom of the eighth, giving HPU an 8-7 lead with a solo home run to leftfield off Eric Niesen.

High Point reliever Tom Boleska then got Wake Forest to go quietly in the ninth, getting a 1-2-3 inning with Dykstra left standing in the on-deck circle.

Dykstra had staked the Deacons to an early 1-0 lead in the first, hitting a solo home run to right on a 3-1 pitch from High Point starter Tony Flores. The homer was Dykstra's 15th of the season, matching his home run total from a year ago.

Wake Forest increased its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the second inning. Andy Goff led off with a single, lining a ball off the third base bag. Two outs later, Flores walked three straight batters to bring in a run, with the RBI going to Brett Linnenkohl. Ben Terry followed with a two-run single to right, scoring Dan Rosaia and Eric Williams.

The Deacs added two more runs in the third. Murray drew a one-out walk off Chlebnikow but was then erased on Goff's fielder's choice. Smith followed with his fifth home run of the season, hitting the first pitch he saw from Chlebnikow to right center.

That was all Wake Forest would get off Chlebnikow, though, as the lefty relief specialist stymied the Deacons in a career-high five-plus innings. Coming into Tuesday's game, Chlebnikow had pitched a total of 10 innings over 20 appearances this season.

Chlebnikow allowed three runs on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He retired nine straight batters from the fourth through the sixth innings but received a no-decision after giving up the tying run in the eighth.

Boleska (3-1) earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

Niesen (4-4) took the loss for the Deacons, allowing just the home run in his one inning of work.

Ernst received a no-decision, despite pitching a career-best 6 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits. The righthander struck out two and walked two on the night.

Negus allowed three unearned runs in 2/3 innings of work. He surrendered three hits, the last of which was Stobbe's pinch-hit, three-run homer.

Dykstra led Wake Forest at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. He extended his hitting streak to nine games, while Linnenkohl and Terry each extended their hitting streaks to seven games.

Defensively, Smith made several stellar stops at third base. Rightfielder Terry made a diving catch on a sinking line drive in the third inning, snagging the ball just inches above the ground.

Tuesday was the official dedication of High Point's Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium. The university held a ceremony on the concourse prior to the game, and Coy Williard Jr. and his wife threw out the first pitch.

Wake Forest returns home to face No. 21 Coastal Carolina on Wednesday at 3 p.m. RHP Ben Hunter (4-5, 6.40) will take the mound for the Deacs, while RHP Nick McCally will start for the Chanticleers.