March 9, 2009

Wake Forest-Winthrop Game Notes | Follow Live Updates on Twitter

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team faces a pair of non-conference opponents in midweek games this week, traveling to Winthrop on Tuesday night for a 6 p.m. game, before returning home to host Elon on Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

After winning its first six games of the season, the Demon Deacons have lost their last four games. Wake is coming off a three-game sweep by Virginia in the opening weekend of Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Weldon Woodall and Carlos Lopez lead the Deacs offensively. Woodall ranks second in the ACC in batting average, hitting .500 through the first 10 games of the season. Woodall has a team-best 20 hits and seven doubles. Lopez is batting .400 on the season and leads the conference with six home runs and with a .971 slugging percentage. He also leads Wake Forest with 15 RBIs on the season.

Wake Forest head coach Rick Rembielak will be looking for his 500th win. His career record currently stands at 499-367-1.

Winthrop enters Tuesday's game with a 10-2 record, including a 3-0 mark in Big South competition. The Eagles have won their last four games, including a three-game sweep of High Point last weekend to open up conference play. Kevin Nolan and Eddie Tisdale are tied for the team lead with 20 hits apiece. Sean Sullivan leads the team with 14 RBIs and is one of four Eagles to have at least 10 RBIs on the season. As a team, Winthrop is hitting .329 on the season and has a team earned run average of 3.68.

Elon is 5-4 on the season and 3-2 in Southern Conference action. The Phoenix will have a two-game series against LaSalle on Monday and Tuesday, before traveling to Winston-Salem for Wednesday night's game. Elon lost two of three games over the weekend at The Citadel. Cory Harrilchak leads Elon with a .419 batting average, along with two home runs and nine RBIs. Pat Irvine leads the Phoenix with three home runs on the year.

Junior Phil Negus will make his first start of the season on Tuesday at Winthrop. Negus leads the team with five appearances on the season and has a 1-0 record and one save with a 4.05 ERA. His last outing came on Saturday, March 7, against Virginia. Negus allowed a run on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Winthrop will counter with lefty Tyler McBride. McBride will be making his first appearance of the season on Tuesday. McBride made four pitching appearances during the 2008 season, including two starts. He finished the year with a 1-1 record and a 3.27 ERA.

On Wednesday against Elon, Wake Forest will start senior southpaw Garrett Bullock. Bullock has an 0-0 record and a 21.60 ERA through his first two games of 2009. Bullock, who spent the offseason rehabbing from shoulder surgery, last took the mound on Friday, March 6, against Virginia, giving up three runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning.

Junior lefty J.D. Reichenbach will take the mound as a starter for the first time in 2009 on Wednesday night for Elon. Reichenbach has made five appearances on the season, all in relief. He has yet to allow a run on the season, giving up just two hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Admission for Wednesday night's game against Elon is free of charge.

Live stats and recaps of both games will be available at WakeForestSports.com.

Midweek Schedule
Tuesday, March 10 at Winthrop - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11 vs. Elon - 6 p.m.

Ticket Information
Tickets for all midweek games, including Wednesday night's game against Elon, are free of charge.

Tentative Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, March 10 at Winthrop
RHP Phil Negus (Jr., 1-0, 4.05) vs. LHP Tyler McBride (0-0, 0.00)

Wednesday, March 11 vs. Elon
LHP Garrett Bullock (0-0, 21.60) vs. LHP J.D. Reichenbach (0-0, 0.00)

Records
Wake Forest - 6-4, 0-3 ACC
Winthrop - 10-2, 3-0 Big South
Elon - 5-4, 3-2 Southern Conference

Rankings
Wake Forest - Not Ranked
Winthrop - Not Ranked
Elon - Not Ranked

Internet Coverage
Live stats for both games available at WakeForestSports.com.