Sports > April 21, 2005

Graham Hall

Old Gold & Black Reporter

The Deacons continued their tough ACC stretch of the season hosting the North Carolina State Wolfpack for a three-game series beginning on April 15. The Wolfpack, 26-10, 7-8 ACC entering the series, had won the last two meetings between the two teams. The Deacons, who entered the series 15-20, 8-11 ACC, were looking to rebound after dropping three close games to Florida State.

Sophomore ace, Josh Ellis, took the mound for the Deacons April 15, and pitched around runners in the first two innings. Sophomore first baseman Brendan Enick gave Ellis the early lead with an RBI single in the first. Ellis, however, ran into trouble in the third surrendering a run and then in the fourth was rocked for five runs, only one of which was earned. Ellis was then taken out of the game and replaced with senior Kip Byrum, who finished out the third.

Byrum pitched the remaining five innings of the game, despite poor control early on which resulted in five allowed runs, only two of which were earned, on four walks. Down 11-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Deacons began to mount a comeback scoring two runs. Wolfpack relief pitcher, Matt Payne suffered control problems walking four straight batters and throwing a wild pitch. The Wolfpack ran into more problems in the eighth, where four walks and two throwing errors along with three Deacon hits led to Wake Forest scoring six runs and getting within two runs of tying the game. N.C. State closer, Joey Devine, was given the ball in the bottom of the ninth in desperation and pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning to preserve the 11-9 win.

The next day, April 16, the Deacons sent sophomore Charlie Mellies to the mound in hopes of ending the four game skid. Mellies did not disappoint early on allowing one run on three hits in four innings with four strikeouts. With a 4-1 lead, Mellies was pulled in the top of the fifth for precautionary reasons after he pulled a muscle in his arm. The bullpen was called on to hold on to the lead, and while it gave up four runs, the offense was able to respond with a five-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth.

Junior right fielder Casey Sterk lead off the scoring drives in both the second and sixth innings with doubles and was driven in both times by freshman short stop Andy Goff, who was named the player of the game driving in three batters on two hits and scoring two runs. Senior Tim Morley was credited with the win in relief pitching two innings and striking out two. The win was Morley’s first of the season as he improved to 1-4. The Deacs leveled the series at 1-1 with the 9-5 win.

Senior Brian Bach started the rubber game of the series on April 17. Bach pitched seven solid innings allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out four and left the game with a 7-5 lead. For the third day in a row, the Deacon bullpen could not prevent N.C. State from scoring, as freshman Eric Niesen was unable to find his control, walking the only two batters he faced. Junior Kyle Young was then called on to replace Niesen, but gave up two quick singles as the Deacon defense committed a crucial error allowing the tying run to score. With a runner on second, Young seemed on the verge of a strikeout, when N.C. State’s Ramon Corona doubled to right to score the go-ahead run. For the second time in three days, Joey Devine was called on to close out the game, pitching a scoreless ninth to earn his eighth save of the season. Niesen was given the loss falling to 1-2 on the season, while the Wolfpack’s Jason Duncan picked up the win to improve to 4-0.

After a disappointing weekend, the Deacons picked up an emotionally charged win on April 19 against Winthrop. The lead in the game rocked back and forth, as the Deacons used four pitchers on the day, in order to prepare for the weekend series with Maryland. Wake Forest jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, as freshman leftfielder Brett Linnenkohl blasted a two run shot to right field for the first home run of his career. The Winthrop Eagles rebounded, however, scoring five unanswered runs over the next five innings. The Deacs scored one run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game only to watch the Eagles respond with a go-ahead run in the top of the eighth.

Senior defensive substitution Grant Achilles launched a solo shot over the left field wall in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game once again.

The home run was the first hit of Achilles’ career and lifted the spirits of his teammates. Achilles, who has spent much of his career on the bench due to injuries, has just recently been seeing limited action in the field.

In the bottom of the ninth with runners on first and third, Enick ripped a walk-off single to right to win the game. Niesen was credited with the win, improving to 2-2, Achilles was named the player of the game and the Deacs stole the 7-6 win.

The team was back in action April 20 when they travelled to Charlotte in hopes of continuing their good luck.

And sure enough, the beginnings looked good. The Deacs came out strong with a 4-0 lead after Mathias came up with his 30th homer of the season. The team was then able to score again in the second with a single, a double by Goff, followed by another single. 

The 49ers were quick to respond, however, and by the third inning, they gripped the permanent lead. Despite an early Deacon run at the top of the inning, the score stood 6-5.

By the seventh, the score at 7-5, Tucker managed to edge towards a tie by smacking his ninth homer of the season over the centerfield wall. Nevertheless, Tucker’s efforts were not enough. Thanks to a surge from the Charlotte offense, the team exploded for six runs in the eighth inning alone, dashing any hopes for a Deacon win. Miller batted in a homer and Achilles continued on his hot hitting streak with two RBI in the game, but the team walked away with a 13-7 loss.

The Deacons, now 17-22, travel north to College Park, Md. to face off against the Maryland Terrapins. The team has 13 more games before the ACCs.