WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – UNCG took an early 1-0 lead, but Wake Forest rattled off nine unanswered runs as the Spartans fell to the Demon Deacons, 11-1, on Tuesday afternoon at the Wake Forest Baseball Park.
Justin Van Grouw picked up the win for the Deacons (4-4) after allowing just one run on two hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, while striking out four batters. Brandon Browne was credited with the loss after going 2 1/3 innings and giving up five runs on five hits.
Bobby Martin led the Spartans (4-4) at the plate as he went 1-2 with an RBI and a walk. Eric Brindle went 1-3 with a run scored, while Cole Harrison had the only other hit for UNCG in his only at-bat.
Matt Conway paced the Demon Deacons as he went 2-3 with four RBI, two runs scored and a pair of home runs. Charlie Morgan also had a nice day as he went a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI.
Things started well for the Spartans as they took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. With one out, Brindle had an infield single and then advanced to second after Joe Hager reached on an error. Martin then came up and slapped a single through the left side of the infield to score Brindle from second.
It was all Wake Forest from there, though, as it immediately tied the Spartans with a run in the bottom half of the second as Matt Conway led off with a solo home run to left field.
The Demon Deacons would add four more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 advantage. The Deacs loaded the bases with no outs before Conway hit a sacrifice fly to center to score the first run. Another runner would go on to score on a wild pitch before Morgan delivered a two-run single to make it a four-run contest.
Conway struck again in the bottom of the third with a two-out two-run home run to center field that pushed the Demon Deacon lead out to 7-1.
Wake Forest got another two-run homer, this time from Steven Brooks, in the bottom of the sixth inning to go ahead, 9-1. The Demon Deacons would take on another pair of runs in the eighth to make the final score, 11-1.
The Spartans return home this weekend as they host Albany for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
Wake Forest 11, UNCG 1
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UNCG................ 010 000 000 - 1 3 0 (4-4)
Wake Forest......... 014 202 02X - 11 12 2 (4-4)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Brandon Browne; Greg Smith(3); Warren Slack(4); Jonathan Jones(5); Tyler Hollstegge(6); Dylan Hathcock(7); Dylan Newton(8); Pete Schultz(8) and Cambric Moye; Zach Leach. Wake Forest - Justin Van Grouw; Daniel Marrs(7); Niko Spezial(8); Michael Dimock(9) and Mike Lubanski; Brett Armour.
Win-Justin Van Grouw(1-1) Loss-Brandon Browne(0-1) T-2:27 A-131
HR WF - Steven Brooks; Matt Conway 2.
Weather: 54 and sunny
Newton faced 2 batters in the 8th.
- UNCG -
