April 22, 2006
Final Stats
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No. 24 Wake Forest clipped the Maryland Terrapins, 4-3, at Hooks Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game set. The Terps (17-25, 6-17 ACC) put the tying run on third with one down in the ninth but were unable to score as they dropped to 9-4 in one-run contests.
Right-handed pitcher Ben Pfinsgraff (2-5) tossed his second complete game of the season for Maryland, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out six on 109 pitches. After letting four runs in during the first two innings, he settled down and held the Demon Deacons scoreless on just three hits over the final six.
Down by one in the ninth inning, the Terps had an opportunity to tie things up against closer Ben Hunter. Dan Benick led off the frame, landing on second following a poor throw by the third baseman. After a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Steve Braun, Maryland had a man on third with one away. But Hunter struck out Joe Palumbo and got pinch hitter Gerry Spessard to pop out to end the threat, clinching his Atlantic Coast Conference-leading 12th save of the year.
Shortstop Dan Melvin and designated hitter Jordan Wilson both homered for Maryland, which managed just three hits on the day. Wake Forest's Josh Ellis (4-3) earned the victory in relief, tying a career-high with seven strikeouts in 3.2 shutout innings.
In a game delayed 26 minutes at the start due to rain, Wake used two hits and two free passes to score two runs in the first. Following a leadoff single by Evan Ocheltree, Matt Antonelli walked and Brett Linnenkohl was beaned by Pfinsgraff to load the bases. Leftfielder Tyler Smith came through with a two-run single up the middle to give the Deacons an early edge. They doubled their lead to four in the second inning on a two-out, two-run double off the wall in left by Allan Dykstra.
Wilson put Maryland on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. On the first pitch of the inning, the senior from Frederick, Md. slugged a home run to left, making it a 4-1 ballgame. The Terps then closed the deficit to one in the fifth when Melvin belted a two-run shot over the tall trees in left-center against starter Eric Niesen.
Ellis would enter one batter later, shutting down the Maryland bats until Hunter came on to start the ninth.
The Terps will get one more shot against Wake on Sunday afternoon in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hooks Stadium.
