WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest produced three straight singles in the bottom of the ninth to score the game winning RBI, defeating the Zips 16-15 at Glen Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park this afternoon. The Zips and Deacs put on a hitting clinic in today’s highly offensive affair, which saw the most run production for either team to date this season. Together, Akron and Wake Forest combined for 34 hits and 31 runs, including five big flies on the day. With the loss, Akron falls to 0-3 while Wake Forest improves to 2-0. Benjamin Danziger (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) (0-1) suffered the loss for Akron while Ryan McGrath (1-0) picked up the win out of the bullpen for Wake.

Sophomore Brandon White (Wheelersburg, Ohio/Wheelersburg) led Akron today, producing two hits in four at-bats with a home run while also driving in four. Junior John Turk (Kirtland, Ohio/Kirtland) also contributed to the Akron offensive with a 3-for-5 day, including a double and three RBI. Senior Brett Savage (Massillon, Ohio/Perry) finished with a 3-for-4 day adding a pair of RBI, runs scored and walks on the day. Junior Brian Kordal (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) rounded out the top performers today, adding a pair of RBIs with two hits in four at-bats also registering two walks and three runs scored.

Following a brief first inning, which saw Wake Forest notch the first run of today's high scoring contest, both teams exploded offensively in the second as 24 batters combined for 13 hits and 16 runs. The Zips’ bats barraged off seven hits for 10 RBI in the top half of the second to take the 10-1 lead as Kordal and White got the Zips started with back-to-back walks off Wake Forest lefty Alex Wiesner. Senior third baseman Ryan Frazee (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville North) successfully advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt before senior Phil Bednar (Monroe Falls, Ohio/Ball State) singled through the left side to plate Kordal for the first run of the inning. After Kevin Haas (North Olmstead, Ohio/St. Ignatius) walked to load the bases, Savage deposited a single in right field to score the second run in the frame. Senior Matt Roberts (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) entered the box and was hit by the first of two pitches in today’s game to plate another run improving the score 3-1.

With just one out and runners on every bag, Kyle Hallett (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) delivered a single to center field, plating Haas before Turk knocked a RBI single to centerfield, scoring Savage. Kordal garnered his second at-bat of the inning with a two-RBI double to right-center scoring Roberts and Hallett as the Zips took a 7-1 lead. Despite the Deacons replacing starter Wiesner with Gabriel Feldman, the Zips capped off the innings’ attack in spectacular fashion as White smashed a three-run blast to center, clearing the bases as Akron went up 10-1. Frazee grounded out to the pitcher, recording the second out of the inning before Bednar doubled down the third base line. Haas would fly out to the right fielder ending the inning. The Deacons responded in the bottom half, using four singles and a pair of homers-including a grand slam, to add six runs and improve the score to 10-7.

The Zips were back in business atop the third as Savage, Roberts and Hallett all recorded walks to load the bases. With full bases, Turk delivered, sending a two-RBI double out to center. Following the second of five Wake pitching changes, Joel Ernst took the hill for the Deacons but was unsuccessful in halting the Akron offense. Kordal reached first on a fielder’s choice as first baseman Austin Stadler threw Hallett out at home, recording the first out of the inning. Kordal advanced to second then third on an Ernst throwing error as Turk scored and Akron took a 13-7 lead. White followed with a single to left as Kordal came across the plate-unearned. Frazee would fly out to right before Ernst retired Bednar on strikes to end the inning and cap the scoring at four runs.

UA starter Zach Yike (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) retired Carlos Lopez, Ian Tomkins and Ryan Semeniuk in order for the first and only 1-2-3 inning for Wake Forest in the contest and threw four complete innings with nine earned runs on 10 hits and five strikeouts. Freshman Andrew Brown (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) took the mound for the first time in his collegiate career with 2.1 innings of work surrendering just three earned runs and six hits, fanning two.

The Zips scratched the last run across in the top of the fourth as Haas opened the frame with a triple to left-center. Savage plated Haas with a single to left center, putting the Zips up 15-7 but the Deacons wouldn’t go down as they began mounting an eight-run rally to claim the win.

Determined, the Deacons battled back adding two runs in the bottom of the fourth and another in the sixth. A four-run seventh brought Wake Forest within one, before Lopez sent a solo shot to left field, knotting the score at 15-15.

In the bottom of the ninth, Shane Kroker, who hit the grand slam earlier in the game, got things started for the Deacs as he singled to center. Michael Murray, Wake’s designated hitter followed with a single to center before Evan Ocheltree sent the game-winning single to right field, plating Kroker for the go-ahead run and 16-15 win.

Akron returns to action for the fourth and final game at the Wake Forest Invitational as the Zips take on Old Dominion Sunday, Feb. 22 at 11 am. Live stats will be available courtesy of Wake Forest Media Relations and Gametracker by clicking HERE.