Wake Forest Edges Louisville 2-1 in Series-Opener

Friday, April 7

LOUISVILLE, KY

6:00 PM

University of Louisville

25-4, 10-3

WAKE FOREST

23-8, 9-4

Wake Forest

Louisville

Colby Fitch had a RBI single for the Cardinals in Friday's loss to Wake Forest.

April 07, 2017 | Baseball

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Two-run homer from Gavin Sheets proves to be enough offense for the Demon Deacons

By: Garett Wall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Gavin Sheets connected for a two-run homer in the fourth inning to lift No. 17 Wake Forest to a 2-1 victory over the No. 2 Louisville baseball team on Friday night at Jim Patterson Stadium.

After the Cardinals (25-4, 10-3 ACC) had gained a 1-0 lead an inning earlier in the annual Patriotic Game, the Demon Deacons (23-8, 9-4 ACC) answered when Sheets followed a double to left center from Stuart Fairchild by sending a 3-2 offering from junior Brendan McKay over the right field wall. The home run was the 10th of the season for Sheets, who was 3-for-4 in the game.

The loss was the first of the season at home for Louisville and ended its 36-game regular season winning streak at Jim Patterson Stadium. The result also marked the first win for Wake Forest in the series with the Cardinals, who won each of the first seven meetings between the programs.

McKay suffered his second loss of the season and dropped to 4-2 overall despite another strong outing on the mound. The lefthander had 11 strikeouts while surrendering a pair of runs on five hits and one walk in seven innings. McKay has a 1.40 ERA and 68 strikeouts with just 10 walks in seven starts and 45.0 innings this season.

At the plate, senior Logan Taylor was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Colby Fitch added a RBI single. Fairchild added a pair of hits while also scoring on the pivotal home run.

The Cardinals struck first plating a run in the third inning on a two-out RBI single from Fitch to score n Taylor. After connecting for Louisville's first hit of the game with a single to right, Taylor moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Josh Stowers before scoring on the single to right field by Fitch. That lead was short-lived as the Demon Deacons moved ahead moments later on Sheets home run.

The one-run margin for Wake Forest proved to be enough as starter Parker Dunshee and closer Griffin Roberts combined to limit the Cardinals to just six hits in the game. Dunshee earned the win and moved to 6-1 on the season allowing only one run on five hits with six strikeouts in seven innings. Roberts followed with four strikeouts and allowed only one hits in two scoreless innings to close the game and register his third save.

No. 2 Louisville and No. 17 Wake Forest will continue the weekend series on Saturday at 1 p.m., while Sunday's finale is set for 1 p.m.

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