Sports > February 16, 2005

By Graham Hall

Old Gold & Black Reporter

Some might take the 1-3 record of the baseball team as an ominous sign of the season to come, but when two of those losses were to 25th-ranked Winthrop the current record looks less pessimistic.

The Deacons are 1-1 against unranked teams and have scored more runs against their unranked opponents than they have surrendered. The team traveled to Rock Hill, S.C., Feb. 10-13, where they participated in the Coca-Cola Classic.

Although they did not win the tournament, the team walked away with at least one win, which is an improvement over last season’s opening tournament in which the Deacons were winless in three games.

The team began their season Feb. 10 with a match-up against 25th-ranked Winthrop. The game started off positively with freshman Brett Linnenkohl and sophomore Matt Antonelli both getting a hit in the first inning. The batters who followed, however, were unable to find their pitches, and the Deacons failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position.

Senior southpaw, Tim Morley started the game and pitched four and one-third innings, giving up seven hits and striking out four. He found himself down five runs in the fifth, with only one of the runs earned.

One major reason for the Deacons’ loss five errors, which yielded five unearned runs.

The Deacons got their revenge, however, and came back two days later with a 10-5 win over Western Kentucky. Sophomore pitcher Josh Ellis was the key for the team going six innings with five strikeouts and only giving up one earned run on eight hits. 

The offense also responded, getting 11 total hits along with 10 walks, with which they managed to score 10 runs.

Antonelli and Tucker led the team with two RBIs each. Freshman pitcher Eric Niesen and junior Kyle Young combined to pitch scoreless innings with three strikeouts, in just two and a third to give the Deacons their first win of the season.

Just one day after their first win of the season, the Deacons had to face Winthrop yet again. This time the Deacons’ offense managed to get multiple scoring opportunities after collecting 11 hits and six walks.

While their six runs were an improvement over the first game, the Deacons left a total of 14 men on base. 

Tucker and Ingold led the team with two RBIs each, while Antonelli and senior Ryder Mathias each contributed an RBI. Freshman pitcher Matt Hammond had his first start of his collegiate career, going two and a third innings giving up five earned runs on eight hits and had four strikeouts.

The one positive of the game was the Wake Forest bullpen. Redshirt freshman Andrew Knox had three scoreless innings with one hit and one strikeout.

The Deacs played last on Feb. 15 in their home opener at Hooks Stadium against Davidson.

With the support of many of the women’s athletes in the audience, the team looked to be off to a good start as sophomore pitcher Charlie Mellies pitched a perfect 1-2-3 first inning.

The Wildcats drew blood first, scoring two runs in the second inning. The Deacons then responded in the third with junior Casey Sterk and sophomore Matt Antonelli scoring two runs.

Davidson answered in the fourth with three runs that gave them the permanent lead. The Deacs return Feb. 18 against South Alabama