Wake Forest Athletics
Baseball Gameday: Wake Forest vs. UNCG
2/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| Gameday Central | Wake Forest vs. UNCG | |
| Game 5 | Tuesday, February 21, 4:00 p.m. |
| Coverage |  |
| Location | Winston-Salem, N.C. (David F. Couch Ballpark) - Facility Info | Free Admission | Weather |
| Information | Wake Forest Notes  | UNCG Notes | ACC Release | @WakeBaseball  |
The Matchup
• Wake Forest is set for its 2017 home-opener, taking on area rival UNCG in a 4 p.m. contest to open a nine-game homestand.
Last Time Out
• Wake Forest finished its opening weekend with a 1-3 record, splitting a pair of games against Nicholls and falling twice to No. 20-ranked Houston.
• Connor Johnstone tossed Wake Forest's first complete-game shutout in more than a decade on opening day, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out a career-high six batters.
Wake Forest Storylines
• The Demon Deacons are coming off their first NCAA Tournament season in nine years, as they qualified for the College Station Regional a year ago and knocked off Minnesota in the opening game. Wake Forest earned three total wins in postseason play, also defeating Virginia and Duke at the ACC Championship.
• Wake Forest finished the 2016 season with a 35-27 record, the team's most wins since claiming 47 in 2002.
• Despite losing D1Baseball National Player of the Year Will Craig, a first-round pick of the Pirates, and All-American Nate Mondou, a 13th-round pick of the A's, Wake Forest does return all five of its regular starting pitchers, as well as five starting position players. Draftees Parker Dunshee (Cubs - 14th round) and Chris Farish (Indians - 31st round) elected to return to Wake Forest for the 2017 season. Dunshee, as well as outfielder Stuart Fairchild, earned Preseason All-America honors.
• Thanks to his complete game, one-hit shutout on Friday, Connor Johnstone was named the ACC Pitcher of the Week.
Opponent And Series History
• Wake Forest and UNCG have played more than 50 times, with the Demon Deacons holding a 38-14 advantage. The matchup has been more even in recent years, with Wake Forest leading 10-9 in seven years under Tom Walter.
• UNCG is coming off a 2016 season in which the Spartans led the NCAA in batting average and slugging.
• The Spartans lost their opening weekend series to South Carolina, two games to one.
Looking Ahead
• Wake Forest continues its nine-game homestand this weekend, playing host to Southern Cal in a three-game series.
