May 10, 2008

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - On a day that saw Wake Forest honor the legendary Dr. Gene Hooks, as well as its 10 graduating seniors, Demon Deacon starter Charlie Mellies turned in a performance fitting for the occasion. Mellies pitched a complete game to lead Wake Forest to a 3-1 defeat of Duke Saturday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

The Deacons move to 21-27 overall and 10-15 in the ACC with their fifth-straight victory. The Blue Devils drop to 34-16-1 overall and 8-16-1 in conference play.

Wake Forest commemorated the final weekend at its home facility by honoring the stadium's namesake, Dr. Hooks, in a pre-game ceremony. Hooks, who spent 42 years at the University as a player, coach, faculty member and athletics director, was presented with a Wake Forest jersey bearing his name and an engraved bat to commemorate the historic date.

"I have mixed emotions after watching it (Hooks Stadium) grow from just a couple of fields--a varsity field and a freshman field--on campus in 1956 to, in stages, go on up to a beautiful college stadium," said Dr. Hooks. "But I also realize that it's not a state-of-the-art facility and can't be at this location. It's nice that they're able to move on to a really nice college facility. I think that baseball will prosper as a result of that. I've always been a builder, and I've always felt that Wake Forest needed a first-class facility. They have it in most other sports, so they need it in baseball."

With Wake Forest set to move to Ernie Shore Field for the 2009 season, the Deacons will play their final game at Hooks Stadium on Sunday. Start time for the facility finale has been pushed up an hour to 12 p.m., due to the threat of rain in the afternoon.

Wake Forest also honored its 10 seniors prior to the game on Saturday. Willy Fox, Nathan Frazier, Andy Goff, Matt Hammond, Ben Hunter Austin Jones, Brett Linnenkohl, Charlie Mellies, Ben Terry and Eric Williams were recognized for their respective contributions to the Deacon baseball program.

With all of the hoopla surrounding the game, it was only fitting that the Deacons go out in style. Mellies made sure they did just that. The senior righthander pitched the first complete game by a Wake hurler since he accomplished the feat almost two years ago. His complete game shutout of then-No. 1 Florida on Feb. 26, 2006, was the last time Wake Forest had a starter go the distance.

On Saturday, Mellies allowed just one run on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Duke's four hits on the day were all singles. After allowing the Blue Devils to score a run on a two-out rally in the second, Mellies did not let another runner reach scoring position. A runner reached base in each the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings, but Mellies held them each at first base every time.

"The big thing was to get the win for the team because we're still fighting to get to Jacksonville (for the ACC Tournament)," said Mellies. "Obviously I had an unbelievable defense behind me. Smitty (Tyler Smith) made that one diving play down the line. Ben Terry's diving catch in center in the ninth was the only reason I got to finish the game. That's what it takes to pitch a complete game, you have to have some spectacular plays behind you. They did a great job, which really helped me and kept my pitch count down."

Early on it did not look as though Mellies would have a chance to go the distance, as his pitch count piled up over the first few innings. However, after the second inning he did not face more than four hitters in each frame from then on.

"At first they (the Duke hitters) were taking a lot of pitches, which was killing me," added Mellies. "I had about 60 pitches through three innings. I honestly thought there was no way I could finish this thing, but then they started swinging and I was able to go because I threw a bunch of fastballs. I was in and out with fastballs, and I didn't have to throw too many offspeed pitches. They are a pretty aggressive team, so they were swinging the bat early.

"'The Hook' has been great to me so it was nice to end it on this note. It's going to be sad not playing anymore but also not playing at this great park."

It was a fellow senior, Willy Fox, who helped Mellies send the Deacons to victory on Saturday. Fox's two-run home run in the third broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the difference in the game.

Mike Murray also homered, hitting a leadoff shot in the second to tie the score at 1-1. Murray extended his hitting streak to seven games with the homer. He now has at least one hit in 20 of his last 21 contests.

Dustin Hood was the lone Deacon with multiple hits, finishing the day 2-for-4. It was his team-leading 21st multi-hit game of the season.

Duke took an early 1-0 lead with a two-out rally in the second inning. Mellies set down the first two hitters of the frame, but Jonathan Nicolla was then able to reach on a full-count walk. After Mellies hit Ryan McCurdy with a pitch to put two on, Jake Lemmerman grounded a single up the middle to drive in Nicolla.

Wake Forest quickly countered in its half of the second. Murray launched the first pitch of the inning to right field for his fifth home run of the season, tying the score at 1-1.

The Deacons took the lead with two runs in the third, courtesy of Fox's bomb. Steven Brooks reached on a leadoff walk and promptly stole second base. One out later, Fox went the other way on a 3-2 pitch from Duke starter Christopher Manno for a two-run homer to right. It was Fox's sixth home run of the season.

Wake missed on opportunities to put insurance runs on the board in the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, the Deacons loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks and a single. However, Blue Devil reliever Ryan Perry got a strikeout to end the threat.

In the eighth, the Deacs had two on with one out. Eric Williams grounded a single up the middle. Hood tried to score from second on the play, but centerfielder Alex Hassan made a strong throw home to get Hood sliding into the plate.

Duke did not go quietly in the ninth, as it took a spectacular play from Terry in center to stop a would-be rally. After Nicolla had reached on a one-out single, McCurdy blooped a fly into shallow center. Terry came racing straight and made a diving catch on the ball. Mellies then got Lemmerman to foul out to end the game.

Manno (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season for Duke. The lefty allowed three runs on three hits over five innings pitched. Manno came in with 71 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings but managed to strike out just four Deacs on the day.

Wake Forest will look to post its fourth-straight season sweep of Duke on Sunday. RHP Brad Kledzik (1-4, 8.10) is scheduled to make his second start of the season for the Deacs, while the Blue Devils will counter with RHP Jonathan Foreman (2-0, 1.68). First pitch is set for 12 p.m.