Feb. 25, 2009

Wake Forest Improves to 5-0 with 15-3 Win over Appalachian State
Wake Forest scored nine runs in the first four innings of the game and freshman Daniel Marrs threw five scoreless innings in the first start of his collegiate career as the Demon Deacons downed Appalachian State 15-3 on Tuesday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park.

With the win, Wake Forest improves to 5-0 on the season, the team's best start to a season in 11 years. Appalachian State suffers its first loss of the season to drop to 3-1.

Making his first collegiate start, Marrs allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings of work to pick up the win. Marrs struck out six batters and allowed five bases on balls. Gabe Feldman and Greg Young each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

NC State Baseball Blasts High Point, 8-2
NC State broke out the offense for the second straight game and got effective pitching from six pitchers to overtake High Point 8-2 on a Tuesday afternoon matinee at Doak Field at Dail Park. The Wolfpack improved to an even 2-2 on the season. High Point fell to 2-2.

The Wolfpack's bats came alive during a five-run fourth inning. Following a run-scoring single by Harold Riggins to tie the game at 1-1, the Wolfpack took the lead on two-run singles by Drew Martin and Kyle Wilson against High Point starter Mike Caldwell. NC State added an insurance run in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth to lead 8-2.

NC State freshman Zak Sinclair started for the Wolfpack, allowing five hits and one earned run in 3 1/3 innings, but did not figure in the decision. Jake Kensmoe, who entered the game with one down in the fourth inning, got the victory, his first career win, to improve to 1-0. 

Maryland Trounces Coppin State in Home Opener, 16-1
Gerry Spessard went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and starting pitcher Matt Fullerton tossed three scoreless innings in his first collegiate start as the University of Maryland defeated Coppin State, 16-1, in seven innings Tuesday afternoon at Shipley Field in the Terrapins' home opener.

The 16 runs scored were the most since the Terps (1-3) also scored 16 February 29 of last season against Hofstra. Spessard's three hits tied a career high.

Maryland took advantage of four Coppin State (0-1) errors to score five unearned runs, beginning in the bottom of the first inning. 

No. 18 Coastal Carolina Upends No. 1 Tar Heels, 7-3
A two-run home run by Jose Iglesias in the eighth inning, and two Tar Heel errors in the ninth lifted No. 18 Coastal Carolina to a 7-3 win over No. 1 North Carolina Tuesday at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. Levi Michael went 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI single, and Mike Cavasinni went 2-for-5 with two runs scored to pace the Tar Heels (3-1).

Iglesias added a sacrifice fly in the ninth for a game-high three RBI, and Rico Noel led the Chanticleers (4-1) with two hits.

Left-hander Matt Rein (1-0) picked up the win after allowing one run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings for Coastal, which recorded its first-ever win over the nation's No. 1-ranked team. 

ETSU downs Hokies in home opener
The Virginia Tech baseball team saw its season-opening four-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday afternoon at English Field with a 7-3 loss to East Tennessee State in the Hokies' home opener.

The Hokies (4-1) out-hit the Buccaneers 7-6, but ETSU took advantage of a four-run seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie and improve to 3-0 on the season.

The pivotal top of the seventh included a go-ahead triple by ETSU winning pitcher Bo Reeder (1-0), who threw six innings of six-hit ball before moving to third base and handing the game over to reliever Dustin Plumlee. Plumlee earned his second save of the year by tossing three innings and allowing just one unearned run.

Georgia Southern Stops No. 8 Georgia Tech, 6-5
A.J. Wirnsberger's one-out single plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Georgia Southern closer Dexter Bobo retired the next six Yellow Jacket batters in order to help the Eagles to a 6-5 win over Georgia Tech Tuesday evening.

The loss was Georgia Tech's first of the season, while the Eagles improved to 4-0 in 2009. The Yellow Jackets (3-1) will have a chance to even the series Wednesday when the two teams meet at 4 p.m. at J.I. Clements Stadium.

Wirnsberger collected two hits and drove in three runs on the night, but his single off Tech reliever Thomas Nichols (0-1) proved to be the difference in the game. After allowing the first two batters reach base in the bottom of the seventh, Nichols struck out Phillip Porter for the first out of the inning. Wirnsberger then gave the Eagles their first lead of the game when he knocked a 1-2 pitch up the middle to drive in Kevin Bowles and Matt Miller.