Wake Forest Falters in Back-and-Forth Series Opener Against N.C. State

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest's baseball team dropped the series opener to in-state rival N.C. State on Friday, falling 13-7 in a back-and-forth affair at David F. Couch Ballpark.

The Deacs (14-21, 6-18 ACC) plated six of their seven runs via four combined home runs off the bats of Brock Wilken, Bobby Seymour and Shane Muntz, leading the game as late as the sixth inning behind Ryan Cusick's nine strikeouts in 6.1 innings on the mound.

But the Wolfpack (21-14, 13-12 ACC) countered with five home runs of their own, scoring eight of their 13 runs to seal the victory in a game that featured six lead changes.

Seymour led Wake Forest with three hits on the night, two home runs and a double, while Wilken and Michael Ludowig each tacked on a pair of hits. Cole McNamee pitched a perfect 1.1 innings in relief late in the contest, fanning three Wolfpack batters.

How It Happened

Ryan Cusick struck out the side to begin the series opener.
The Deacs jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a first-inning home run from Brock Wilken that plated Michael Turconi (walk).
The Wolfpack got a run back in the top of the second, scoring an unearned run following a fielding error.
- Cusick struck out a pair of batters in the frame. The right hander also forced a ground out to Wilken at third.
Michael Ludowig smacked a base knock with two outs, but was stranded following an inning-ending strikeout.
NC State tied the game in the top of the third, recording a solo home run to right field. Cusick fanned his sixth batter of the game to end the inning.
Bobby Seymour broke the tie with a two-run home run with two outs in the third, giving the Deacs a 4-2 lead.
- Wilken scored after reaching base for the second time of the game with a walk.
The Wolfpack took a 5-4 advantage after a two-run home run and a solo shot in the top of the fourth.
- Cusick struck out his seventh NC State batter of the night for the second out and induced a ground out to end the inning.
Shane Muntz blasted a solo home run to right center field to tie the game at 5 after four frames.
- Ludowig recorded his second base hit and stole second to get into scoring position. A single and stolen base from Lucas Costello placed another Deac in scoring position, but a strikeout ended the threat and the inning.
Cusick pitched a scoreless fifth behind a pair of fly outs and a ground out to keep the game deadlocked at 5.
Seymour knocked his second ball out of the park to give Wake Forest a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
A solo homer from the Wolfpack once again tied the game (6-6) in the top half of the sixth.
The Deacs responded with a run of their own, taking a 7-6 lead after Pierce Bennett scored on a wild pitch.
- Bennett advanced all the way to third after a single following a throwing error trying to pick him off at second.
- Wilken hit a single to right field after Bennett crossed the plate, but the inning was over after a ground out.
The Wolfpack hit a three-run blast to take hold of a 9-7 lead midway through the seventh.
- Cusick fanned his ninth and final batter of his start to leadoff the inning. After allowing a single, Brennen Oxford hit the mound. After facing three batters and inducing a groundout, Oxford was replaced by Teddy McGraw, who ended the frame with a pop up to second base.
The Deacs were held scoreless in the seventh as the Wolfpack held their 9-7 advantage into the beginning of the eighth.
- Brendan Tinsman recorded a two-out double.
NC State extended their lead to 13-7 with a four-run fourth inning behind two doubles and a single.
- McGraw tossed a strikeout and forced a ground out before Cole McNamee retired the first batter he faced (ground out) to end the inning.
Wake Forest was retired in order to end the eighth.
Cole McNamee struck out the side in the top of the ninth.
- The junior retired all four batters he faced on Friday.
The Deacs were able to put a runner on with a lead-off double from Bobby Seymour, but could not keep the rally going, as Wake Forest fell 13-7.

Words from Walter
"We scored in five different innings, and NC State scored in the next half inning four out of those five times. If you had told me coming into the game that (Ryan) Cusick would strike out nine, walk none and give up seven hits, I would have told you we win the game. Unfortunately it didn't go that way. If you score seven runs on a Friday you should win, and we didn't get it done."

In the Spotlight
Bobby Seymour completed his fifth multi-home run game on Friday, smacking two big flies in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. The St. John, Ind. native smacked a two-run shot in the third inning to give Wake Forest its second lead of the game, and followed up with a solo home run in the fifth inning. The junior went 3-for-5 overall on the night, driving in three runs while scoring two of his own.

On Deck
On May 1, the Deacs will be hosting its first-ever Fight Against Pediatric Cancer Game, where fans will be given the opportunity to bid on special edition, game-worn jerseys with all proceeds being donated to Brenner Children's Hospital. Bid now. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. and will be shown live on ACC Network Extra.

The series finale will take place on Sunday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. on ACCNX.

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Wake Forest Falters in Back-and-Forth Series Opener Against N.C. State

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Team Stats

Bobby Seymour

Brock Wilken

Michael Ludowig

Lucas Costello

Players Mentioned

Pierce Bennett

Lucas Costello

Ryan Cusick

Michael Ludowig

Teddy McGraw

Cole McNamee

Shane Muntz

Brennen Oxford

Bobby Seymour

Brendan Tinsman

Michael Turconi

Brock Wilken

Players Mentioned

Pierce Bennett

Lucas Costello

Ryan Cusick

Michael Ludowig

Teddy McGraw

Cole McNamee

Shane Muntz

Brennen Oxford

Bobby Seymour

Brendan Tinsman

Michael Turconi

Brock Wilken

Wake Forest Athletics