Feb. 10, 2001

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team improved to 2-0 on the year with a 10-5 victory over defending Big Ten Champion Penn State on Saturday at Hooks Stadium. The Deacons were led by a senior and a freshman in the game.

Senior centerfielder Cory Sullivan enjoyed a stellar day at the plate going four-for-five with a first inning home run and three runs batted in. Freshman Kyle Sleeth picked up the win in his collegiate debut on the mound. He threw six scoreless innings and surrended just two hits while striking out four batters.

"Kyle Sleeth did a great job. For a freshman to come in against an NCAA tournament team and shut them out for six innings is excellent," head coach George Greer said. "Cory Sullivan showed why he's an All-American today. He plays big in big games."

Sullivan got the Deacons on the board right away, leading off the bottom of the first inning. He clocked a Peter Yodis fastball high over the right field wall to give Wake Forest an early 1-0 lead.

"I was looking for a fastball and I got it. I didn't think it was going out but it did. I think it got caught up in the jet stream. Some days you get lucky," Sullivan said. "More importantly, the team got the win. Kyle Sleeth pitched unbelievably well. He was huge for us today."

The Deacs put Penn State away with six runs in the sixth inning. Jamie D'Antona hit one of his three doubles during the inning to drive home Carlos Brackley. D'Antona's three doubles tied a school record held by several players. Later in the inning, in his first career at-bat Winston-Salem freshman Steve LeFaivre hit a pinch-hit double to left field that brought Matt Price around to score. When the inning was over, the Deacons owned a commanding 10-0 lead.

Penn State mounted a late rally, scoring five runs in the eighth but it wasn't enough. Dave Bush came on for the second straight day and put an end to the comeback, striking out three batters in the final one and two-thirds innings.

Wake Forest will look to finish the opening weekend undefeated when the Deacons will face Penn State. Sophomore Ryan Braun is scheduled to take the hill. First pitch on Sunday is set for 12:30 p.m.