March 3, 2001

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team extended its winning streak to six games after hanging on to defeat the University of New Orleans 8-7 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Hooks Stadium. The Demon Deacons built up a seemingly insurmountable 8-0 margin after six innings but nearly saw their lead vanish in the final three innings.

New Orleans began its comeback in the seventh inning with three runs. The Privateers scored two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings and had the lead run at first base when the Deacons finally recorded the third out of the last inning. In the final three innings, New Orleans stranded seven runners.

Wake Forest starting pitcher Kyle Sleeth silenced the Privateer bats through the first six innings. The freshman from Westminster, Colo., fanned a career-high nine batters, the most strikeouts by a Wake Forest pitcher this season. He earned the win for his efforts, his third of the season.

Wake Forest hit well as a team as eight batters reached on base hits. The Deacons scored the eventual game winning run during the sixth inning with the help of the Privateers. UNO committed one error, uncorked three wild pitches and hit one batter during the inning. When the dust cleared, four Demon Deacons had come around to score.

Junior closer Dave Bush struck out a career-high eight batters but also allowed three earned runs on seven hits in the final three innings of the game.

"We went to Bush too soon. We have so much confidence in his abilities that we decided to go to him in the seventh inning and it was too soon. We asked him to throw too many pitches," head coach George Greer said, "but give all the credit to New Orleans. They battled real well and capitalized on our two miscues. They're a great team. We were very fortunate to come out with a win."

The start of the game was pushed back 70 minutes due to rain. There was a light rain off and on during the game but the playing surface at Hooks Stadium withstood the moisture and play continued without interruption.

Wake Forest concludes its series with the New Orleans tomorrow afternoon at Hooks Stadium. Sophomore Ryan Braun will take the hill for Wake Forest and the first pitch is 1:30 p.m.

New Orleans    000    000    322    -    7    14    2

Wake Forest    000    134    00X    -    8    11    3