The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Wake Forest
Baseball eliminates Wake Forest in 12 innings, 7-4
06.03.2007 | Baseball
ROUND ROCK, Texas -- No. 5 Texas survived an elimination game with a 12-inning, 7-4 win over Wake Forest at NCAA Division I Baseball Championship regional game action at The Dell Diamond.
The win propelled the Longhorns to the evening game where they will play UC Irvine. Texas needs to win two consecutive over the Anteaters to claim the regional title while UCI needs to win just one of the two.
The Longhorns posted three runs in the top of the 12th inning to break a 4-4 tie. Jordan Danks hit a leadoff single through the right side of the infield and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Russell. Chance Wheeless hit an infield single to put runners at the corners. Bradley Suttle plated Wheeless and Danks with a double to the right centerfield gap, staking Texas to a 6-4 lead. The Longhorns tacked on an insurance run when Russell Moldenhauer hit a double to the wall in right centerfield.
Wake Forest rallied back from a 4-1 deficit in the ninth inning to drive the game to extra frames. With Texas winning 4-1, Tyler Smith hit a single to left centerfield off Joseph Krebs. Smith moved to third on consecutive groundouts by Weldon Woodall and Evan Ocheltree. Andy Goff plated Smith with a single to leftfield, cutting the lead to 4-2. Randy Boone came in to relieve Krebs and gave up a two-run, pinch-hit home run to Brett Linnenkohl.
Moldenhauer drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning when he hit a solo home run over the fence in left centerfield.
Texas (46-16) tacked on three more runs in the fifth. Travis Tucker was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. Danks switched positions with Tucker on a fielder's choice groundout and stole second base. Russell drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Wheeless hit a double down the rightfield line to plate Danks. Suttle hit a single through the left side of the infield driving in Wheeless and Russell, giving Texas a 4-0 advantage.
Wake Forest (34-29) broke the scoring seal in the bottom of the sixth inning when Smith hit a solo home run to leftfield.
James Russell started for Texas, weaving 3.2 scoreless innings, scattering one hit and one walk while striking out three. Krebs pitched five innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits while fanning four Demon Deacons. Boone (5-6) earned the win with 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits. Austin Wood picked up his first save of the season with two strike outs in one inning.
Josh Ellis (5-4) was the hard-luck loser for Wake Forest. He allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over four innings.
Suttle led Texas' offense, going 2-for-3 with three walks, one double, one run and four RBI. Danks, Wheeless and Moldenhauer each added two hits.
POSTGAME NOTES
- With the win, Texas advances to take on UC Irvine in the Regional Championship on Saturday at 6 p.m.
- Wake Forest's loss knocked the Demon Deacons from the NCAA Tournament, after posting a 1-2 record, defeating Brown and losing to Texas and UC Irvine.
- Today's game marked the third time Texas and Wake Forest have met. In their only previous meetings, Texas topped Wake Forest twice to win the 1949 NCAA Championship.
- Texas is making its 51st NCAA postseason appearance and ninth straight.
- Wake Forest is making its 11th NCAA appearance and first since 2002.
- The attendance for the regional's fifth game between Wake Forest and Texas was 4,882.
Texas (46-16)
Team Notes:
- With the win, Texas is now 66-38 all-time in NCAA Regional action.
- Texas improves to 3-0 all-time against Wake Forest.
- The Longhorns' game against the Demon Deacons marked the third time UT has played extra innings this season
- The victory was Texas' first extra-inning victory of the season.
Individual Notes:
- Senior lefthander Joseph Krebs' third appearance of the NCAA Regional was his 34th appearance of the season, tying him for 10th-place all-time in the UT single-season record book with Buck Cody (2005) and Phil Seibel (1999).
- Sophomore third baseman Bradley Suttle's three-RBI performance, marked his 17th multiple-RBI game of the season, a mark good for second on the squad.
- Wake Forest's solo home run by Tyler Smith in the bottom of the sixth inning, snapped senior lefthander Joseph Krebs' 17.2-inning scoreless innings streak.
- Senior closer Randy Boone's appearance was his 40th of the season, tying him with Buck Cody (2004) for fourth-place in the UT single-season record book.
- Senior first baseman Chance Wheeless' sacrifice bunt in the top of the 10th inning was his team-best 13th of the season and the 35th of his career.
-Bradley Suttle's two-hit outing was his team-best 27th multiple-hit game of the season and Chance Wheeless' two-hit effort was his 26th of the season, a mark good for second on the club.
Wake Forest (34-29)
Team Notes:
- The loss moves Wake Forest's all-time NCAA Tournament record to 37-23.
- The Longhorns are the first Big 12 opponent that the Demon Deacons have faced this season.
- Six of Wake Forest's last seven opponents have been ranked in the Top 25, including four teams in the Top 10.
- Junior centerfielder Ben Terry was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third inning, bringing the Demon Deacons' season total to an NCAA-best 113 HBP's. Wake Forest moved past San Jose State into first place.
Individual Notes:
- Sophomore starter Brad Kledzik tossed 4.1 innings before being lifted from the game, marking his shortest start since opening day against Kent State (Feb. 16).
- After being hit by a pitch in the third inning, Ben Terry has been hit by a pitch 26 times this season and is tied for ninth-place nationally, having been hit by a pitch 0.51 times per-game.
- Junior pinch-hitter Brett Linnenkohl's home run in the bottom of the ninth inning was his first since May 2 against UNC Greensboro. The at-bat marked Linnenkohl's first ever pinch-hit appearance.
TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Augie Garrido
General comments: It was a tough, hard-fought game. We found a way to survive.
On fighting back: That is the attitude I have talked about with these guys. Anything less than a real strong mentality and this thing is lost. They fought back. They fought hard, and they overcame a lot of adversity. It was a difficult day. There is no question about that.
On the pitching: We have gone beyond our normal pitching roles. We will all see together whether I made good or bad choices in using the pitchers the way that I did. I know that is always in question, but this is the way I have pretty much done it and what I believe in. You have to get to that next step and then the miracles are going to take place and the unexpected is going to happen. There are no guarantees, but there is one guarantee. If we lose this game, we don't play another one.
WAKE FOREST POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Rick Rembielak
General comments: When you lose games like this, the first thing I look at is lost opportunities. We weren't as successful in the first seven innings. I'm very pleased though with how the guys fought back. They kept fighting and were able to make a good comeback.
On UC Irvine vs. Texas: UC Irvine doesn't like to stop when they get on base. They like to create havoc on the mound, for the pitcher and the defense. They try to disrupt that rhythm. They're a very tough team to defend, and they capitalize on their opportunities.
Wake Forest P Josh Ellis
On the last inning: Unfortunately (Jordan) Danks was able to get on base. That put pressure on me from the start, and I wasn't able to make the right pitches afterwards.
Wake Forest PH Brett Linnenkohl
On his home run in the 9th: The past few games I haven't been having the best at bats, so today I tried to go back to the basics.
