Box Score
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Aaron Stadler allowed just one run on five hits over six solid innings and Mike Murray and Mac Williamson drove in two runs each as host Wake Forest defeated Army 6-2, Friday afternoon at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
Stadler (1-0) was sharp in the Demon Deacons’ season-opener, firing six sharp innings. The sophomore left-hander tied a career high with seven strikeouts, while walking only one.
Wake Forest (1-0) struck first with two runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning against Army starter Kirk Porter (0-1). Porter retired the first two batters he faced before yielding a two-out single through the right side of the infield to Steven Brooks. Murray followed with a walk before both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Williamson then drilled a 3-2 offering from Porter down the right field line for a two-run single.
The Demon Deacons added a run in the bottom of the second inning as Shane Kroker reached on a two-base throwing error by Army third baseman Shaun Wixted. Kroker advanced to third on a ground out by Bentley Heyman and scored on a line single to left by Patrick Blair for a 3-0 Wake Forest lead.
Army (1-1) drew to within 3-2, plating single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.
Moore drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, moved to third on a single by Kevin McKague and scored on Ben Koenigsfeld’s two-out double to center field. The Black Knights were able to slice the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the seventh when Cody Murtle tripled off the right field fence and scored on a sacrifice fly by Wixted.
Both teams had threatened in the fifth inning, but neither scored. Army placed runners on second and third with two outs in the top half of the frame before Moore grounded out to second to the threat. Wake Forest loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the stanza, but Porter escaped trouble by inducing Murray to bounce into a 3-6-1 double play.
Wake Forest put the game out of reach with three unearned runs off Black Knight reliever Logan Lee in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kroker reached on a fielding error by Wixted to open the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Heyman. Blair slapped a single to left field, moving Kroker to third. The Demon Deacons plated their fourth run when Ryan Semeniuk reached on a fielding error by Moore. Semeniuk and Blair each moved up a base when Moore tried to throw Semeniuk out at first, but his throw sailed wide of the bag. After Brooks flied out to right for the second out of the inning, Murray ripped a clutch two-out, two-run double to left field, putting Wake Forest in front 6-2.
Army managed just one base runner over the final two innings as Ryan Bouton and RyanMcGrath performed well in relief to preserve the Demon Deacons’ victory. Bouton tossed two innings, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. McGrath pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the victory.
Porter (0-1) suffered the loss for Army, giving up three runs (2 earned) on four hits over five innings of work. He struck out two and walked four. Lee was touched for three unearned runs on two hits in two innings. Ryan Davis (0.2 innings) and Chris Simpkins (0.1 innings) combined to work a scoreless eighth for the Black Knights. Zach Price collected two hits in four plate appearances to lead Army’s seven-hit attack.
The Black Knights, who notched a 14-6 win over Dayton in their season opener earlier in the day, round out their three game weekend series on Saturday, battling Wake Forest once again. First pitch at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park is slated for 4 p.m. Junior right-hander Ben Koenigsfeld is scheduled to oppose Wake Forest junior righty Brandon Johnson in the pitching matchup.
Black Knights Blog: Army committed four fielding errors after registering a pair of fielding miscues in the season opener against Dayton earlier in the day ... Clint Moore had a rough day in the field, committing four errors, two in each game ... the slick-fielding All-American notched just seven fielding errors all of last season ... Army set a school record with a .971 team fielding percentage a year ago ... Moore’s eight-game hitting streak was snapped by Wake Forest on Friday ... Zach Price was the only Army player to record more than one base hit ... David Darnell, Kevin McKague, Ben Koenigsfeld, Cody Murtle and Shaun Wixted were credited with Army’s other base hits ... Murtle ripped his first career extra-base hit when he tripled off the right field fence in the seventh inning ... Chris Simpkins has not allowed a run across seven career outings ... Darnell started both games in center field Friday.
