Wake Forest pounces on Clemson in ACC opener

Wake Forest hit three home runs, including two two-run shots by Will Craig, to defeat Clemson 6-4 on Friday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

Wake Forest scored three runs in the first, capped by Craig’s first homer. Gavin Sheets led off the second with a homer, and Craig blasted his second home run in the third inning as the Demon Deacons jumped to a 6-0 lead.

The Tigers chipped away with a two-run homer by Seth Beer, his fourth of the year, which upped his hitting streak to 10 games, in the fourth inning. Chase Pinder added a solo shot, his fifth of the season, in the seventh.

Parker Dunshee (3-1) picked up the win for Wake Forest (11-4, 1-0), allowing eight hits, four runs and no walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

Craig pitched the final two innings for his third save of the season. Charlie Barnes (1-2) suffered the loss for Clemson (9-3, 0-1), giving up six hits, six runs and two walks with a career-high nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m.

This story was originally published March 12, 2016 at 12:35 AM with the headline "Wake Forest pounces on Clemson in ACC opener."