WINSTON-SALEM, NC Despite leading 3-0 early in the game, UNC Greensboro fell 4-3 to Wake Forest on a walk-off double by Steven Brooks at the Wake Forest Baseball Stadium on Wednesday night.
Wake Forest reliever Zach White pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Demon Deacons (15-11) to record the win.
UNCG reliever Alex Shelton was credited with the loss for the Spartans (8-14).
With the game tied at 3 heading into the final frame, Wake Forest used a pair of doubles to claim the win. After the first batter fouled out to first, Austin Stadler doubled down the right field line. Greg Smith then came in to pitch for Shelton and got Bently Heyman to fly out to center field. Brooks came up and hit a fly ball to left center that looked like left fielder Pedro Leon was going to catch, but he slipped on the wet grass and wasn't able to make the play.
The Spartans got on the board first in the top half of the second thanks to a fielding error by the Wake Forest second baseman. With one down in the inning, Trevor Edwards walked and then moved to second on a single by Raymond Frias. Brent O'Berry hit what looked to be an inning-ending double play, but the ball went under the second baseman's glove and Edwards was easily able to score from second to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
UNCG extended its lead in the fourth inning with a pair of runs to make the score 3-0 thanks to two Demon Deacon errors. Edwards led off the inning and reached on a fielding error by the first baseman before advancing to second on a thowing error on a fielder's choice by Frias. O'Berry loaded the bases as he successfully reached on a bunt down the third base line. After a fly out, Leon lifted a ball to center for the second out of the inning, but Edwards was able to tag up and score on the play. Corey Overholtzer followed with a single through the right side of the infield to score Frias from second and put the Spartans up 3-0.
After UNCG starter Warren Slack began the game by allowing just one hit over the first five innings, but he ran into trouble in the sixth inning.
The Deacons led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Brooks followed by loading the bases on a fielder's choice and error by the catcher. Evan Ocheltree got Wake Forest on the board with a two RBI single through the right side. After Dustin Hood walked to load the bases again, Brooks scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 3. After the two runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, Tyler Smith flew out to left field. Ocheltree tried to tag up on the play and score, but Leon threw a perfect ball to home where Jacob Golliday applied the tag to get out of the inning.
The game remained that way until Brooks' walk off double in the ninth inning.
UNCG will return to conference play this weekend as they make the quick trip over to Elon for a three-game series this weekend. The Spartans and the Phoenix will meet in game one on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Latham Park.
AGATE
Wake Forest 4, UNC Greensboro 3
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UNC Greensboro......010 200 000 - 3 6 2 (8-14)
Wake Forest............ 000 003 001 - 4 8 4 (15-11)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Warren Slack, Rob Gilliam, Alex Shelton, Greg Smith. Wake Forest Brad Kledzik, Mark Adzick, Brandon Johnson, Zach White.
Win- Zach White (3-0) Loss- Alex Shelton (0-3) T-2:24 A-127
- UNCG -
