April 29, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest will play twice during the upcoming mid-week, with both games coming against in-state competition. The Demon Deacons will wrap up a nine-game road swing on Tuesday at UNC Greensboro before hosting Davidson on Wednesday afternoon.

First pitch for Tuesday's contest at UNCG is set for 6 p.m. The Deacons have played eight straight road games coming into the week. Wake has not played at home since April 16 against Winthrop. RHP Ryan McGrath will make the start against the Spartans.

Wake Forest returns home for the first time in two weeks when it hosts Davidson on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The game will be one of the last at Hooks Stadium, as Wake is moving to nearby Ernie Shore Field prior to the 2009 season. The Deacs have just four games remaining at Hooks, Wednesday against Davidson and a three-game series against Duke on May 9-11.

RHP Charlie Mellies is scheduled to start against the Wildcats.

Both games can be heard live on Internet radio at www.WakeForestSports.com.

Wake Forest (17-27, 8-15 ACC) is coming off a 1-2 showing last weekend at Georgia Tech. The Deacons salvaged the final game of the series by earning a 7-5 defeat of the Yellow Jackets on Sunday.

UNC Greensboro enters the mid-week at 26-17 overall and 11-7 in the Southern Conference. The Spartans went 1-2 in a home series last weekend against Elon. UNCG picked up a win on Friday before dropping the final two games of the series. The Spartans have lost four of their past six. Last week, they defeated NC State and lost to Duke.

The Deacons have already beaten the Spartans once this season, 13-6, on March 6 at Hooks Stadium. Wake pounded out a season-high 17 hits, including a grand slam from Steven Brooks. McGrath earned his first collegiate victory in the game. He pitched just 2/3 innings of relief but got Wake out of a bases-loaded jam early in the contest. The win was the 100th in head coach Rick Rembielak's Wake Forest career.

Several Deacons have hit well against the Spartans in their careers. Andy Goff has hit .571 with six RBIs, four runs and two stolen bases in four games against UNCG. Evan Ocheltree has hit .526 with nine runs, six RBIs, two homers and a 1.105 slugging percentage in four games. Allan Dykstra has hit .462 with five RBIs and four runs in four games, while Ben Terry has hit .500 with five runs and a .667 on-base percentage in three career games. On the mound, Brad Kledzik has allowed just one run in three appearances against the Spartans.

Davidson enters the week at 10-28 overall and 2-16 in the Southern Conference. The Wildcats, who were swept last weekend at Appalachian State, do not play on Tuesday. Davidson has dropped four straight and six of its past seven contests.

The Wildcats defeated the Deacons earlier this season, picking up a 9-3 victory on April 15 in Davidson. Wake Forest out-hit Davidson, 8-7, but the Wildcats plated at least one run in each inning from the third through the eighth to take control of the game. Mike Murray homered and had two RBIs in the loss.

Dykstra has hit well against Wildcat pitching in his career. In three career games, Dykstra has hit .545 with eight RBIs, three home runs, a .688 on-base percentage and a 1.545 slugging percentage.

Wake Forest will be off for eight days for final exams. The Deacons return to action on May 9 when they host the Duke Blue Devils in the first game of a three-game series at Hooks Stadium.