March 30, 2002

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- The 8th-ranked Wake Forest baseball team fell to visiting Florida State, 18-10, on Saturday afternoon at Hooks Stadium, evening the weekend series at one game apiece.

The Demon Deacons got home runs from Ryan Braun, Ryder Mathias, Jamie D'Antona and a grand slam from Ryan Johnson but it wasn't nearly enough as the Seminoles scored in every inning but the sixth.

Florida State crept out to a 3-1 lead after two innings and blew it open with a five-run third inning off freshman starter Tim Morley who took the loss.

The Deacon defense, which turned four double plays yesterday and had gone four games without committing an error, had four miscues on Saturday.

Florida State posted season-highs in runs and hits was led by Ryan Barthelemy who went 5-for-6 with a home run and six RBI.

The Deacons put up a six-spot in the fifth inning via the long ball. Johnson hammered a grand slam and two batters later, Braun hit a two-run blast as Wake Forest cut the lead to 12-7. But the Deacons would get no closer.

D'Antona finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of walks. Mathias went 2-for-3 with his second home run in as many days. Nick Blue and Ben Ingold each had two hits.

The rubber game of the series will be Sunday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. Freshman Brian Bach (3-0, 6.38 ERA) will make the start for the Deacons. Blair Varnes (4-3, 3.86 ERA) will pitch for the Seminoles.

Stan Cotten and Carter Blackburn will call the action on 98.1 FM WBRF and on the world wide web at WakeForestSports.com.