March 11, 2001

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The 22nd-ranked Wake Forest baseball team dropped its first game of the season at Hooks Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Duke handed the Demon Deacons a 14-6 loss. The loss snaps Wake Forest's nine-game winning streak and marks the team's first loss in 21 days.

The Blue Devils (8-11, 1-2) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before Wake Forest had even come to bat and led 6-1 after two innings of play. Duke scored in every inning except the third and the ninth. Blue Devil starter Kevin Thompson pitched eight strong innings, scattered six hits and struck out four to earn the win.

Junior Ryan Lewis, making his first start in a Wake Forest uniform, took the loss after throwing just two innings and allowing six runs on five hits. The Deacon defense commited four errors, a season-high.

Senior All-American Cory Sullivan was the bright spot for the Deacons. He went three-for-four with a home run and two RBI. The game capped an outstanding weekend at the plate for Sullivan who hit .615 in the series and reached base ten times in 15 plate appearances.

"Some days you just don't have it. We wanted to come out and finish the weekend strong," head coach George Greer said, "but give lots of credit to Duke. They put the bat on the ball and threw good pitches all day, and really, all weekend long. They're going to win a lot of games this year."

The Demon Deacons close the book on their eight-game homestand on Tuesday afternoon when they host Appalachian State at 2:00 p.m.