Wake Forest University
Western Carolina
Wake Forest Welcomes Western Carolina for Non-Conference Contest on Tuesday
3/14/2022 4:25:00 PM | Baseball
The Deacs square off with the Catamounts in their fifth midweek matchup of the season.
Game Notes | Live Stats | Stream
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team returns to David F. Couch Ballpark against Western Carolina on Tuesday, March 15 for their fifth midweek matchup of the 2022 season.
The 13th all-time meeting between the teams will begin at 5 p.m. and can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Fans can tune into an audio streaming broadcast through the Wake Forest Athletics app for all three games.
Stay tuned to the Demon Deacons social media accounts (@WakeBaseball) for all in-game updates and information.
Tickets and Promotions
Every midweek game this season at David F. Couch Ballpark features the fan-favorite "$5 Midweek" promotion. Fans can take advantage of general admission tickets to the game for only $5 while enjoying $5 Deacon Brew throughout the game. Avoid the lines on gameday and purchase your $5 tickets in advance at GoDeacs.com/tickets.
Promotions
Yellowstone Night at The Couch
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First 150 fans will receive a Wake Forest Baseball koozie
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$5 Deacon Brew
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Fans can participate in Yellowstone trivia between innings
Opponent & Series History
Wake Forest holds a 7-5 mark in the all-time series with Western Carolina. The teams first met in 1971.
In their last meeting, the Deacs defeated the Catamounts 14-8 in Cullowhee as the Deacs jumped out to a 12-0 lead after two and a half innings.
In the top of the first, nine Demon Deacons entered the batter's box, five of which reached base safely before the first out of the game was recorded.
Six Demon Deacons combined for 13 hits. Brock Wilken posted a team-high five RBIs with a grand slam and RBI-single. Wilken and Michael Turconi scored a team-best three runs. Additionally, with his second hit of the game in the second inning, Turconi recorded his 100th career hit.
Prior to 2021's matchup, Wake Forest and Western Carolina last squared off in 2015.
Offense Among Nation's Best
Wake Forest has one of the top offenses in the entire nation and ACC as the Deacs lead the ACC in four offensive categories, as well as ranking in the top-10 nationally in eight.
| Category | National | ACC |
| Home Runs | 4 | 1 |
| On-Base Percentage | 4 | 1 |
| Walks | 5 | 1 |
| Batting Average | 6 | 1 |
| Runs | 4 | 2 |
| Scoring | 6 | 2 |
| Slugging Percentage | 6 | 3 |
| Hits | 10 | 2 |
| Sacrifice Flies | 19 | 4 |
Nine Demon Deacons have notched at least 10 base hits this season, including a trio with a team-high 20 hits.
20- Adam Cecere, Brendan Tinsman, Pierce Bennett
19- Michael Turconi
18- Jake Reinisch, Brock Wilken
17- Nick Kurtz
15- Danny Corona
12- Chris Katz
The Demon Deacon offense got off to a historic start as the 2022 team became just the second squad in program history to register at least 20 runs multiple times during the opening four games of a season, matching the 1951 squad that represented the United States at the 1951 Pan-American Games.
1951 (67 Runs)
- Argentina: 29 runs
- Brazil: 23 runs
- Columbia: 8 runs
- Nicaragua: 8 runs
2022 (63 runs)
- Lafayette (Feb. 18): 25 runs
- Georgetown (Feb. 19): 9 runs
- VCU (Feb. 20): 6 runs
- UNC-Greensboro: 23 runs
Defense and Pitching Thriving Early
On the mound, Wake Forest's starting pitchers have accounted for 59.3 percent of the team's innings (83.2 out of 141). Additionally, the Deacs' starters have tallied 54.1 percent of the team's overall strikeouts (86-of-159).
The Demon Deacons have been able to rely on their bullpen as six relievers have given up three runs or less this season (six innings pitched minimum):
- 1: Gabe Golob, Crawford Wade
- 2: Derek Crum, Camden Minacci, Eric Adler
- 3: Brennen Oxford
In a Sunday doubleheader against No. 8 Florida State, Wake Forest's bullpen combined for 7.1 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits while fanning 12 batters.
Overall, the Deacs have only conceded 43 earned runs through 16 games (2.68 per game) and have held every opponent to five or less runs to open the season. Their team ERA ranks fifth in the ACC.
Through the first four games, the Deacs gave up just 11 runs, the fewest number of runs the Deacs have allowed in the first four games in head coach Tom Walter's tenure.
Eight Wake Forest arms have held opponents to a sub-.100 batting average (at least six innings minimum):
- Crawford Wade- .100 in 6.0 IP
- Eric Adler- .138 in 8.1 IP
- Rhett Lowder - .193 in 23.1 IP
- Gabe Golob- . 185 in 8.1 IP
- Camden Minacci- .174 in 13.1 IP
- Reed Mascolo- .171 in 11.1 IP
- Derek Crum- .194 in 1.11 IP
- Brennen Oxford- .182 in 6.1 IP
Heading into Tuesday's game, Wake Forest is fourth in the ACC with a .985 fielding percentage.
Brendan Tinsman has caught eight base runners trying to steal a base, the most in the ACC.
Mascolo's Midweek Magic
Reed Mascolo is set to make his third start of 2022 against the Catamounts on Tuesday.
Since 2021, Wake Forest has posted an 8-1 record when Mascolo gets the nod as the midweek starter, registering wins over Charlotte, Appalachian State (twice), Elon (twice), Western Carolina, Davidson and George Mason. In those games, Mascolo has posted a 4-1 record, tossing 31.1 innings and striking out 32 batters.
In 2022, Mascolo has appeared in five games, striking out 12 while walking just five batters in 11.1 innings. Mascolo holds a 1.59 ERA as he has conceded just two earned runs.
In the first start of his redshirt sophomore campaign against Elon, Mascolo tossed a hitless three innings with five strikeouts to set the tone for Wake Forest in their 10-2 midweek matchup. Mascolo retired five-straight batters over the second and third innings to keep the Phoenix offense at bay.
The right hander earned his first win of 2022 in his last start against George Mason last week. Mascolo earned his first victory of the season, tossing 4.2 innings and allowing just two runs.
On Deck
The Deacs head out for their first ACC road series of the season against nationally-ranked Georgia Tech on March 18-20 at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
The trio of games can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
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