GREENSBORO, NC Wake Forest's four-run fifth inning was enough to lift the Demon Deacons to a 6-5 win over UNC Greensboro on Wednesday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Wake Forest (28-22) jumped out to a one-run advantage in the first when Brett Linnenkohl hit a lead-off home run over the rightfield fence. UNCG quickly responded in the same inning to tie the game, 1-1. Ricky Orton recorded his 20th RBI of the season when he sent a single through the right side to score Tim Carrier, who doubled earlier.
After adding a run in the second, the Demon Deacons struck for four runs in the fifth. Wake opened with back-to-back singles by Linnenkohl and Ben Terry. Willy Fox drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, while a Dustin Hood single plated Terry. The Deacons closed out the inning with a RBI double and a RBI single to take the 6-1 lead.
UNCG (23-22) closed the gap by plating three runs in the home half of the fifth, making it 6-4 in favor of Wake. Junior Matt Gaski reached on a one-out single up the middle and advanced to second on a catcher's interference. Orton laced a double down the leftfield line, scoring Gaski. Greg Feltes drove in Guy Welsh with a sacrifice fly to right, while Orton came home when Sean Snell reached on a Deacon error.
The Spartans pushed across a run in the seventh to cut the Deacons lead to one, 6-5. Gaski opened the inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a Wake throwing error. Welsh followed with a hit up the middle, moving Gaski to third and Orton grounded into a double play, but allowed Gaski to score on the play.
Kirby Wedekind (2-0) took the win and gave up just one run on four hits in four innings of work on a scheduled staff day. Josh Ellis picked up his seventh save of the season after pitching a scoreless and hitless ninth.
Starter Alex Shelton (1-4) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in two innings on the mound. Kory Judd held Wake Forest scoreless in three innings of relief and struck out two.
The Spartan offense was led by Orton, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Gaski finished with two hits and two runs on the evening.
UNCG plays host to The Citadel in a pivotal three-game Southern Conference series beginning Friday at 7 pm. The Spartans are currently tied for fourth in league play with a 9-9 record, while the Bulldogs are fifth with an 8-10 conference record.
AGATE
Score by Innings R H E
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Wake Forest.............. 110 040 000 - 6 11 4
UNC Greensboro...... 100 030 100 - 5 9 0
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Pitchers: UNCG Shelton; Gibbs (3); Gibson (4); Harvey (5); Judd (7)
Pitchers: Wake Forest Wedekind; Wiesner (5); Bullock (6); Kledzik (7); Niesen (8); Ellis (9)
Win Kirby Wedekind (2-0) Save Josh Ellis (7) Loss Alex Shelton (1-4)
- UNCG -
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