April 22, 2004
TODAY'S TOP STORIES
Deacons Continue Homestand Against Maryland...
Wake Forest hosts Maryland at Hooks Stadium for a three-game series beginning Friday. After rallying to beat UNC Asheville on Tuesday at home, the Deacons are looking to gain momentum with a winning streak before the break for final exams.
The Friday and Saturday games can be heard on 98.1 WBRF as Stan Cotten and former Deacon pitcher and big leaguer Mike Buddie have the call.
The Deacons send starters Justin Keadle, Kyle Young and Danny Mackey to the hill this weekend. Maryland does not release their starting pitchers until game time.
Wake Forest has won seven straight against the Terps since 2001 and 21 of the last 25 meetings to lead the series 77-46-1.
Threading the Keadle...
Junior righty Justin Keadle has been the workhorse of the pitching staff this season, logging 56.1 innings over eight starts. That's an average of 7.04 innings per start which leads the Atlantic Coast Conference, slighly ahead of Michael Rogers (7.0) and Daniel Bard (6.96).
The native of Huntington Beach, Calif., and transfer from Cypress JC, has pitched into the seventh inning in every start this season except his debut on Feb. 22 against Cal State Northridge.
Keadle's 10 strikeouts against NC State last weekend were the most in a single game by a Deacon pitcher since Kyle Sleeth mowed down 13 Blue Devils last March at Hooks Stadium.
Today's Number to Note is...
4 - When holding the opposing lineup to four runs or less, the Demon Deacons are 7-2.
Injury Updates...
An MRI on Monday revealed a partially torn rotator cuff in Brian Bach's right shoulder... he is out an indefinite period of time... Kirby Wedekind (strained forearm) has not pitched since April 11 will probably rest his arm through the break for final exams... Jonathan Portnoy (intestinal disorder) has been hospitalized since April 9 and he is out indefinitely... Lee Land (Tommy John elbow surgery) is out until next spring... Grant Achilles (torn PCL) is out for the year.
Who Is Hot Lately...
Charlie Mellies has not allowed an earned run during his last three appearances, a span of 6.2 innings... Mellies has allowed just two earned runs in his last 10.2 innings... Ben Ingold is hitting .391 in April (18-for-46)... Nick Blue is swinging the bat at a .360 clip in April (18-for-58)... Casey Sterk has the team's longest active hitting streak at five games... Ryder Mathias has five hits of his last seven ABs with RISP.
