March 5, 2009

Wake Forest Game Notes | Virginia Game Notes

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Coming off its first loss of the season, the Wake Forest baseball team looks to bounce back this weekend as it opens Atlantic Coast Conference play against unbeaten Virginia. Game times are set for 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The Demon Deacons suffered their first loss of the season on Wednesday night at UNC Wilmington, falling 12-7. Wake Forest jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but the Seahawks scored the final 10 runs of the game for the comeback win.

Carlos Lopez led the way offensively, hitting two home runs and notching three RBIs. Lopez became the first Deacon player to hit two home runs in a game since April 19, 2008, when Tyler Smith hit two homers against Virginia. Weldon Woodall added three hits for Wake Forest and Austin Stadler hit the first home run of his collegiate career and drove in three runs.

Wake Forest head coach Rick Rembielak will be looking for the 500th win of his career this weekend. Rembielak enters the weekend with a career record of 499-364-1, including a 126-113 record as head coach of the Demon Deacons.

Virginia enters the weekend as the last unbeaten team in the ACC at 9-0. The Cavaliers are coming off a 17-4 rout of George Washington on Wednesday. Virginia leads the ACC in team batting average (.373), on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.563). UVa has also been stingy on the mound, compiling a league-best 1.11 earned run average through the first nine games of the season.

Virginia has five players hitting over .400 on the season, led by Steven Proscia, who is batting .486 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. Jarrett Parker has also belted two home runs while driving in 13 runs.

Wake Forest freshman Austin Stadler will get the start in the series opener on Friday. Stadler enters the weekend with a 2-0 record and a miniscule 0.82 earned run average. He's allowed just two runs, only one earned, on seven hits in 11 innings thus far this season and has struck out 12, while walking only four. In his last outing, he gave up one unearned run on two hits in six innings in a win over Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Cavaliers will counter with freshman lefty Danny Hultzen on Friday. Hultzen is 2-0 on the season and has not allowed an earned run in 12 innings pitched. He has struck out 17 and allowed just one walk during his first two appearances of the season.

Senior Brad Kledzik will make his second start of the season on Saturday. Kledzik has a 1-1 record on the year with a 6.14 ERA. Kledzik, who hadn't pitched since February 21, made a relief outing on Wednesday against UNC Wilmington and allowed five runs on no hits, but walked four batters in 2/3 of an inning. In his first start of the season against Old Dominion, Kledzik was dominant, striking out a career-high 10 batters and allowing two unearned runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Senior Andrew Carraway will start for Virginia on Saturday night. Carraway has won his first two starts of the season and has an impressive 0.68 ERA. Carraway has allowed three runs, only one earned, on six hits in 13 1/3 innings to this point in the season.

Freshman Michael Dimock will star for Wake Forest in the series finale on Sunday. Dimock has an 0-0 record and a 3.68 ERA in two appearances on the season, including one start. He made a relief appearance on Wednesday against UNC Wilmington and threw two innings, allowing a run on three hits. Dimock made his first collegiate start against Marshall on February 22 and allowed five runs, only two of which were earned, on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Virginia has yet to name a starter for Sunday's series finale.

Wake Forest leads the all-time series against Virginia 81-65. The two teams split four meetings last year. UVa took two of three games in the regular season, but the Demon Deacons came back to grab a win in the ACC Tournament.

The Deacs have fared well in ACC openers in the last 20 years. Since 1989, Wake Forest is 13-7 in the lid lifter for conference play.

Tickets for this weekend's games are $6 and can be purchased on game day or in advance by visiting WakeForestSports.com. All seating at Wake Forest Baseball Park is general admission.

Live stats and a recap for each game of the series will be available on WakeForestSports.com.

Weekend Schedule (Times Eastern and Subject to Change) - Winston-Salem, N.C.
Friday, March 6 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 7 - 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 - 1 p.m.

Ticket Information
Single-game tickets are $6 and can be purchased on game day or in advance at WakeForestSports.com.

Tentative Pitching Matchups
Friday, March 6
LHP Austin Stadler (Fr., 2-0, 0.82) vs. LHP Danny Hultzen (Fr., 2-0, 0.00)

Saturday, March 7
RHP Brad Kledzik (Sr., 1-1, 6.14) vs. RHP Andrew Carraway (Sr., 2-0, 0.68)

Sunday, March 8
RHP Michael Dimock (Fr., 0-0, 3.68) vs. TBA

Records
Wake Forest - 6-1, 0-0 ACC
Virginia - 9-0, 0-0 ACC

Rankings
Wake Forest - RV (ESPN/USA Today)
Virginia - RV (NCBWA/ESPN/USA Today)

Internet Coverage
Live stats available for all three games of the series on WakeForestSports.com