DJ Poteet hit a grand slam and Chris Lanzilli hit what proved to be a game-winning homer in the victory.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest hit three home runs, including a DJ Poteet grand slam and what proved to be the game-winner from Chris Lanzilli, to beat Liberty, 8-7, at David F. Couch Ballpark on Wednesday night.
The Demon Deacons (19-23) battled back from deficits of 3-0 and 6-5, with Lanzilli's two-run homer in the sixth inning breaking a 6-6 tie.
Wake Forest also received strong outings from its bullpen. Antonio Menendez and Tyler Witt tossed 2.0 hitless innings apiece, while Bobby Hearn threw 0.2 innings to escape a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Rayne Supple fanned two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his seventh save.
After the Flames (24-15) plated three second-inning runs, Lanzilli hit an RBI single and Poteet followed with his first-career grand slam in the bottom of the inning to put the Deacs up, 5-3.
Jonathan Embry answered with a three-run homer off the right-field foul pole to put Liberty back in front, 6-5, in the third.
Johnny Aiello tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of that inning, drilling an opposite-field home run, his eighth longball of the season.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lanzilli broke the tie with a two-run shot over the left-field wall to put the Deacs back in front for good. The homer was Lanzilli's third of the last four games.
Liberty loaded the bases with one out in the eighth before Hearn entered the game. He recorded a fielder's choice and a strikeout to limit the damage to one run and keep the Deacs in front, setting up for Supple's 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Deacon pitchers hit a total of nine Flames, a program record and one off the NCAA Division I record. Wake Forest limited the damage by conceding just four hits, also turning three double plays.
In addition to Lanzilli's two hits and three RBIs, Shane Muntz also added a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Wake Forest hits the road for five-straight games, beginning with a trip to Georgia Tech for a three-game series this weekend.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest hit three home runs, including a DJ Poteet grand slam and what proved to be the game-winner from Chris Lanzilli, to beat Liberty, 8-7, at David F. Couch Ballpark on Wednesday night.
The Demon Deacons (19-23) battled back from deficits of 3-0 and 6-5, with Lanzilli's two-run homer in the sixth inning breaking a 6-6 tie.
Wake Forest also received strong outings from its bullpen. Antonio Menendez and Tyler Witt tossed 2.0 hitless innings apiece, while Bobby Hearn threw 0.2 innings to escape a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Rayne Supple fanned two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his seventh save.
After the Flames (24-15) plated three second-inning runs, Lanzilli hit an RBI single and Poteet followed with his first-career grand slam in the bottom of the inning to put the Deacs up, 5-3.
Jonathan Embry answered with a three-run homer off the right-field foul pole to put Liberty back in front, 6-5, in the third.
Johnny Aiello tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of that inning, drilling an opposite-field home run, his eighth longball of the season.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lanzilli broke the tie with a two-run shot over the left-field wall to put the Deacs back in front for good. The homer was Lanzilli's third of the last four games.
Liberty loaded the bases with one out in the eighth before Hearn entered the game. He recorded a fielder's choice and a strikeout to limit the damage to one run and keep the Deacs in front, setting up for Supple's 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Deacon pitchers hit a total of nine Flames, a program record and one off the NCAA Division I record. Wake Forest limited the damage by conceding just four hits, also turning three double plays.
In addition to Lanzilli's two hits and three RBIs, Shane Muntz also added a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Wake Forest hits the road for five-straight games, beginning with a trip to Georgia Tech for a three-game series this weekend.
