Sports > March 3, 2005

By Graham Hall

Old Gold & Black Reporter

The baseball team captured a series win for the first time in two years against Cincinnati Feb. 25-27 as well as securing their fifth win of the season when they came from behind to defeat High Point University 5-4.

After an incredible week, redshirt sophomore first baseman and designated hitter Brendan Enick, was named the ACC’s Baseball Player of the Week. Enick, who went 11-for-14 with a home run and seven RBI’s, set a school record nine consecutive hits.

On March 2, the Deacons hosted the High Point. The Panthers got out to an early lead and with a cold Deacon offense, they seemed assured of a win. In the bottom of the seventh, the Deacons scored their first run when senior catcher J.B.Tucker hit a sacrifice fly that scored freshman Brett Linnenkohl from third. Going into the bottom of the ninth the Deacons were down by three, 4-1, and seemed on the verge of defeat.

Linnenkohl singled to lead off the inning and freshman shortstop Andy Goff was hit by a pitch, which resulted in Tucker getting a single, scoring Linnenkohl for the second time in the game. Red-hot Enick reached on a scoring error that scored Goff and junior outfielder Casey Sterk, who was pinch running for Tucker.

For the second time this season, the Deacons went into extra innings.

Junior Kyle Young pitched a perfect 10th inning with a strikeout.  Junior second baseman Grant Achilles led off the inning with a walk, Linnenkohl singled to left and Sophomore third baseman Matt Antonelli was intentionally walked. Goff, who had been in a cold streak, hit a tough pitch to center field which scored junior infielder Grant Achilles and won the game. Young was credited with the win, on a day in which Head Coach Rick Rembielak used seven pitchers preparing for the upcoming ACC opener with Virginia.

The Deacons began their series against the Bearcats Feb. 25 with senior Tim Morley on the mound. Morley had a rough start giving up seven runs, four earned, in the first four innings. The Bearcats produced six hits off Morley, and took advantage of an error that put runners in scoring position to jump out to an early 7-0 lead.

The Deacs’ offense finally awoke in the bottom of the fourth, using the Bearcats’ own fielding misfortunes to their advantage. Antonelli reached third on a poor throw and was followed by Tucker, who used the count in his favor to force a walk. Senior shortstop Ben Ingold ripped a pitch to center, which scored both runners. With a runner on second, Enick was looking to make contact and score the runner. And after two strikes, he got his pitch and launched it over the left field wall for the first home run of his collegiate career.

Morley settled down in the fifth and sixth and left the game at the end of the inning with six strikeouts. Enick doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a line drive double by junior right fielder Casey Sterk. With Morley out of the game, it was up to the bullpen to keep it close.

Brian Bach pitched a scoreless seventh and was followed by freshman Eric Niesen, who pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Enick led off the eighth with a single and was followed by senior center fielder Matt Miller, who was walked. Freshman second baseman Andy Goff doubled to left which scored the two runners and tied the game at seven. The game went into extra innings with both teams scoring in the 11th. The game had to be postponed due to darkness and was resumed in the bottom of the 12th the next morning. After freshman outfielder Brian Shust was hit by a pitch, Goff and Antonelli were walked and Tucker hit a long single to left to score two and give the Deacons the win.

Just half an hour later, the Deacons played the second game of the series.

Sophomore Josh Ellis had a rough start, giving up eight hits and five walks resulting in five runs. Down by four, the team again rallied to tie the game.

Enick and Miller both had RBIs, and freshman outfielder Brett Linnenkohl had a sacrifice RBI in the bottom of the second. Enick continued his offensive rampage in the third, scoring Tucker from second with a single.

The bullpen rescued the Deacs, as sophomores Sean Souders and Andrew Knox and Senior Kip Byrum combined to pitch six innings allowing two runs and striking out five.

In the fifth Ingold reached base and stole second. Both Enick and Ingold were advanced on a wild pitch, and then a passed ball resulted in Enick advancing to third and Ingold scoring. Sterk then singled to score Enick.

The Deacons’ best offensive production came in the seventh inning. Miller and Sterk were both walked to lead the inning off and later a double steal put them in scoring position. Linnenkohl had a sacrifice RBI to score Miller and Goff then singled and was followed by Tucker, who walked to load the bases. Senior first baseman Ryder Mathias then hit a massive shot to left for a grand slam.

The Deacs’ pitching held to win the game 11-7.The following day the team wrapped up the series against Cincinnati with freshman Matt Hammond starting and pitching his best game of the season going five innings with four strikeouts and five runs surrendered.

While the Deacons had been able to mount comebacks throughout the series, they were shut down by the Cincinnati bullpen.

Both teams suffered offensively as the day wore on. The two teams combined for only five hits and one run in the final four innings of the game.

The Deacons will begin ACC play March 4, at home against Virginia.