Andy Goff posted his third straight multi-hit game.

May 15, 2008

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Coming into this week's three-game series at Boston College, Wake Forest needed to win just once to clinch a berth in the ACC Tournament. The Demon Deacons took care of business early, cruising to a 10-3 defeat of the Eagles in game one of the series Thursday afternoon at Commander Shea Field.

The Deacons move to 23-28 overall and 12-15 with their seventh win in their past eight games. Wake has now won five consecutive conference games. Boston College drops to 25-26 overall and 8-20 in the league.

The win assures Wake Forest of a spot in next week's eight-team ACC Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla. The Deacons can do no worse than the seventh seed now that they have at least 12 wins. Clemson (who finished 11-18-1 in the ACC) and Duke (8-17-1 entering its series at Virginia Tech) are battling for the eighth and final spot.

Wake Forest clinched its spot in the tournament on Thursday behind a steady diet of timely hitting and strong starting pitching.

Starter Ben Hunter (4-5) turned in another fine outing for the Deacs, picking up the win on the mound. The senior righthander, who has now posted victories in three straight starts, went seven innings, surrendering two runs on three hits. He struck out eight and walked four. Hunter allowed just one runner to reach scoring position over the first six innings. In the second through sixth innings, he let just two batters reach base, one of which was eventually erased on a double play.

Andy Goff led the offense with his third straight multi-hit game, pushing his hitting streak to eight games. Goff finished the day 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and his second homer of the season. Mike Murray drove in three runs for the Deacs, going 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. He has now had a hit in 23 of his last 24 games.

Weldon Woodall, celebrating his 23rd birthday, drove in a run in the fifth inning.

Wake Forest opened an early lead with a pair of runs in the first inning. Terry led off with a four-pitch walk and then scored when Fox laced a triple to deep left center. After Dykstra was hit by a pitch, Fox plated the second run on Murray's double play ball.

Boston College cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the first. Barry Butera reached on a leadoff walk and moved to third on Michael Belfiore's single. Tony Sanchez drove in Butera with a sacrifice fly to left.

The Deacons got the run back in the second, courtesy of Goff's home run. Goff pulled a 3-2 pitch from BC starter Dan Houston to leftfield for a two-out, solo home run. It was his second homer of the season.

Wake added to its lead with another run in the third. Dykstra lined a one-out single into center, stole second and then scored on Dustin Hood's two-out single to right.

The Deacs pushed their lead to 8-1 with a four-run rally in the fifth. Terry led off with a single, and Fox and Dykstra followed with walks to load the bases. Murray came through with a single up the middle, driving in two and chasing Houston from the game. Reliever John Leonard came in and promptly gave up a walk to Hood to load the bases again. Woodall drove in Dykstra with a fielder's choice, and Tyler Smith hit a sacrifice fly to score Murray with the fourth run of the frame.

Wake Forest added two more runs in the seventh. Goff started the rally with a leadoff single. He moved to second on Terry's sacrifice and then stole third. Fox brought Goff home by drilling a single through the drawn-in infield. After Fox stole second, Murray doubled down the rightfield line to drive him in and give Wake a 10-1 advantage.

The Eagles pushed across a run in the seventh but could not come up with any more despite loading the bases with one. Mickey Wiswall reached on a one-out double, and an ensuing walk to Matt Hamlet and then a hit by pitch against Garret Smith loaded the bases. Hunter fought back to strike out Sam Shaughnessy looking, but he then walked Marc Perdios to bring in a run. Hunter got Butera to fly out to center to end the inning and strand three runners.

BC added another run in the eighth against reliever Ryan McGrath. Sanchez was issued a one-walk, and Eric Campbell followed with a single. After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Wiswall drove in Sanchez with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Eagles put the lead runner on in the ninth, but McGrath used a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally before it could get started.

McGrath pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk.

Houston (3-4) took the loss for Boston College. The righthander pitched into the fifth inning, allowing eight runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked four.

Sanchez and Wiswall each scored a run and drove in an RBI for the Eagles' offense.

Wake Forest and Boston College will play game two of the three-game series on Friday at Shea Field. RHP Charlie Mellies (3-5, 5.57), coming off a complete win against Duke last weekend, will start for the Deacons. RHP Terry Doyle (3-7, 7.52) will go for the Eagles. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.