Duke Falls To Wake Forest, 8-2, On Sunday

Sunday, April 29

Winston-Salem, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Wake Forest

Duke Falls To Wake Forest, 8-2, On Sunday

4/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? Wake Forest got a solid start out of Ben Hunter and broke open a close game with a four-run seventh inning to defeat Duke, 8-2, on Sunday afternoon at Hooks Stadium. The Blue Devils fall to 26-20 overall and 6-18 in the ACC while the Demon Deacons improve to 27-22 and 11-13, respectively.

Wake Forest took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After centerfielder Ben Terry was hit by a pitch, he advanced to second on a Duke error on a groundball hit by first baseman Allan Dykstra. Designated hitter Willy Fox followed with an RBI-single through the left side, scoring Terry and moving Dykstra to second. Shortstop Dustin Hood then flew out to center and Jimmy Gallagher threw out Dykstra at third to end the inning.

The Deacs got back-to-back singles through the right side by second baseman Andy Goff and rightfielder Evan Ocheltree to begin the bottom of the second. Third baseman Tyler Smith then moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, leftfielder Brett Linnenkohl lined a two-run triple to right center to give Wake a 3-0 lead.

Fox added a one-out solo shot to right in the bottom of the third to push Wake's lead to 4-0.

Duke scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to make it a 4-2 ballgame. Rightfielder Alexander Hassan lined a one-out single up the middle and second baseman Kyle Butler reached on a Wake error to begin the frame. Gallagher followed with an RBI-single up the middle to score Hassan. After pitcher Jonathan Anderson drew a walk to load the bases, catcher Matt Williams lifted a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Butler.

Wake scored on a Duke error, Linnenkohl had an RBI-double and Terry and Hood added RBI-singles in the bottom of the seventh to give the Deacs an 8-2 lead.

Hunter improved to 5-5 on the season, holding the Blue Devils to two runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings of work. He struck out 10 batters in the win and walked just one.

Anderson fell to 3-3 after allowing four earned runs on seven hits in six innings. Freshman Michael Ness pitched a scoreless eighth with one strikeout for Duke.

Gallagher led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 4-for-5 with an RBI. Anderson finished 2-for-4, Butler went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Hassan was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Freiman finished 1-for-3 and Williams had an RBI in the game.

The Blue Devils will take a week and a half off before returning to the field at UNC Greensboro on May 9. Duke will then play host to Virginia Tech May 11-13 in their final home ACC series of the season.