Defense Dooms Deacons in 8-2 Loss at Virginia Tech
Hokies score five unearned runs in the first two innings

May 18, 2007

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. - After playing a near spotless game defensively on Thursday, Wake Forest could not match the effort on Friday. Virginia Tech scored five unearned runs off three Demon Deacon errors in the first two innings en route to a 8-2 series-tying defeat of Wake Forest at English Field.

The loss, which drops the Deacons to 30-25 overall and 13-16 in the ACC, puts the team's ACC Tournament hopes back in doubt. Wake came into the day in control of its own destiny but now must hope for at least one more Boston College loss. The Eagles were rained out on Friday and will play a doubleheader against Virginia on Saturday.

If Wake Forest is able to take the series finale against the Hokies (23-30, 7-22), the Deacs would need just a BC-Virginia split. However, a sweep by Virginia would put Wake into the postseason regardless of its outcome against Virginia Tech.

On Friday, the Deacon offense couldn't make up for the defensive blunders. Hokie starter Andrew Wells baffled the Deacs all day. Wells allowed just two runners to reach base over the first four innings and none to advance into scoring position until the seventh.

In contrast, the Hokies put 11 runners on base over the first four innings. Virginia Tech had the leadoff man on in each of the first five innings, and three of the five runners came around to score.

The Deacon defense was doomed from the start. On the first pitch of the game, leftfielder Brett Linnenkohl dropped a flyball in foul territory for an error. Sean O'Brien took advantage of the second life and doubled to center on the next pitch. Two batters later, Bryan Thomas drove O'Brien in with a single up the middle.

The Hokies continued to take advantage of the Deacons' defensive miscues, scoring four unearned runs in the second. Anthony Sosnoskie led off with a single and moved up on Steve Bumbry's sacrifice bunt. One out later, Matt Hacker singled up the middle. Sosnoskie stopped at third, but Hacker tried to take second on the throw home. Catcher Austin Jones' throw to second went into centerfield, allowing Sosnoskie to score and Hacker to take third.

Kledzik looked to be out of the inning, getting a groundball to shortstop, but Dustin Hood bobbled the ball on an in-between hop. Hacker scored on the play and the Hokies' inning was extended once again. O'Brien made the Deacs pay, launching a home run to straightaway centerfield to give Virginia Tech a 5-0 lead.

The Hokies threatened to extend their lead in the third, putting runners on second and third with one out. However, Kledzik got a grounder to second, and Andy Goff immediately came home with the ball. Jones made a nice play, digging the throw out of dirt and then blocking the plate on the tag. Kledzik ended the inning by getting a flyout to center.

Virginia Tech scored its first earned run of the game in the fourth. Hacker led off with a single and then scored three batters later on Nate Parks' RBI single. Rightfielder Willy Fox made a spectacular catch to end the inning with two runners left on. Fox made a long run into foul territory and then dove onto the warning track to snag the ball.

The Hokies pushed their lead to 8-0 with two runs off Kledzik in the sixth. Matt Foley reached on a one-out single, moved to second on a groundout and then advanced to third on Parks' single. After Parks stole second, Thomas drove in both runners with a bloop single to shallow center.

Wake Forest finally got on the board with two runs in the seventh. Fox led off with a single to left center, and two batters later Goff walked to put a runner into scoring position for the first time on the day. One out later, Tyler Smith laced a single through the right side to plate Fox. Pinch hitter Michael Murray followed with a sharp single to center to score Goff and cut the deficit to 8-2.

The Deacons had a golden opportunity to cut into the deficit even more, loading the bases with one out in the eighth. However, a strikeout and a groundout ended the frame with no runners across.

Kledzik (4-4) took the loss for the Deacons. The sophomore pitched six innings and allowed eight runs, three earned, on 12 hits. Kledzik struck out three and walked two.

Charlie Mellies made his first relief outing in two years, pitching two scoreless innings. Mellies allowed just one hit and struck out three.

Fox and Smith had the only multi-hit performances for Wake Forest. Fox finished the night 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Smith went 3-for-4 with an RBI. The Deacs did not have one extra base hit on the night.

Linnenkohl saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end, going 0-for-4. Coming into the night, Linnenkohl had recorded a hit in 20 of his last 21 games.

Wells (4-4) earned the win in his final collegiate appearance. The lefty went seven-plus innings, giving up two runs on seven hits. Wells struck out three and walked one.

Thomas and Hacker had three hits each for the Hokies. Thomas finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Hacker was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

Wake Forest and Virginia Tech will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday afternoon. RHP Ben Hunter (5-6, 4.76) will start for the Deacons, while RHP Adam Redd (3-5, 3.84) will take the mound for the Hokies. First pitch of the regular season finale is slated for 2 p.m.