March 3, 2007

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest rolled past UNC Wilmington 11-2 to push its winning streak to four games Saturday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.

The Demon Deacons (7-3) got another solid outing from starter Eric Niesen, and the offense did its job with a season-high 17 hits.

Brett Linnenkohl led Wake at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run. Linnenkohl came within a triple of hitting for the cycle but settled for a perfect day at the plate otherwise.

"In that sense it wasn't my day," said Linnenkohl. "But I'll take what I had, especially the victory. Niesen pitched great today. Anything we can do for him and the whole staff, that's our job."

Niesen had his third-straight quality start for the Demon Deacons, going seven innings on the day. The junior surrendered two runs, one earned, on three hits, while striking out five and walking two.

After giving up a run in each the first and second innings, Niesen came back to retire 14 Seahawk batters in a row at one point. He only allowed one baserunner, a one-out single in the seventh, over his final five innings of work.

With Wake Forest trailing 2-1 in the third, Linnenkohl gave the Deacs all the offense they would need from that point on. The left-handed hitting outfielder took advantage of a steady wind blowing straight out to right, lofting his third home run of the season over the fence in right center.

The offense didn't stop there, though, scoring eight more runs to roll past UNC Wilmington (5-9). The Deacs put the game out of reach with a five-run eighth inning. Weldon Woodall led off the frame with a solo home run over the scoreboard in left center, and Andy Goff hit a two-run double to the centerfield warning track.

In total, Wake Forest pounded out 17 hits to best its previous season-high of 15, set yesterday against the Seahawks. In addition to Linnenkohl, Dustin Hood, Willy Fox and Evan Ocheltree had multi-hit games. Hood went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Fox was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Ocheltree finished 2-for-5.

Allan Dykstra saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end, going 0-for-3 with two walks and an RBI groundout. Dykstra was intentionally walked in his last at-bat of the day.

Josh Ellis and Ben Hunter each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Ellis did not allow a baserunner in the eighth, while Hunter gave up a hit and a walk in the ninth.

Bradley Holt (1-2) took the loss for UNCW. Holt pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.

The Seahawk offense had just four hits on the day. Matt Holt and Mark Carver each had RBIs to lead the visitors.

Wake Forest and UNC Wilmington will wrap up the three-game set on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Deacs' Garrett Bullock (1-0, 1.50 ERA) squares off against the Seahawks' Daniel Cropper (1-1, 5.51 ERA). The Deacons will be looking for their second series sweep of the season.