Wake Forest University
Liberty
Wake Forest Heads Back on Road for Midweek Clash with Liberty
3/21/2022 6:00:00 PM | Baseball
The Demon Deacons face the Flames in the first of a home-and-home this season in Lynchburg on Tuesday.
Game Notes | Stream ($) | Live Stats
LYNCHBURG, Va. - After winning the opening two games of their ACC road series at No. 6 Georgia Tech for their first conference series victory of the season, No. 24 Wake Forest returns to the diamond for a midweek matchup against No. 15 Liberty on Tuesday at the Liberty Baseball Stadium in Lynchburg, Va.
The Demon Deacons (16-4, 3-3 ACC) are off to their best start through 20 games since the 2012 season when Wake Forest also began the year 16-4. Overall, the Deacs have outscored their opponents 207-81 to open the 2022 campaign.
Tuesday's matchup is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch and can be streamed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
Stay tuned to the Demon Deacons social media accounts (@WakeBaseball) for all in-game updates and information.
Last Time Out
Wake Forest took their first ACC series of the 2022 season against No. 6 Georgia Tech, clinching the series victory with wins on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta.
The Demon Deacons defeated the Yellow Jackets 5-3 in their conference road opener Friday night inside Mac Nease Baseball Park before a 27-7 offensive eruption in game two.
The Deacs' offense put together a historic performance on Saturday, setting a new program record for most runs (27) and hits (28) in an ACC game to earn their first series win over a top-10 team since taking two-of-three games from No. 8 NC State in 2019. Additionally, the 20-run margin of victory is the second-highest for an ACC game in program history as the Demon Deacons defeated Georgia Tech by 21 runs on April 16, 1999. This year's squad became the first team since 2003 (sixth all-time) to score at least 20 runs in three games in a season. Additionally, this ties the most 20-run game in a single season in program history.
The Demon Deacons were unable to overcome an early deficit in the series finale as the Yellow Jackets took an 8-0 lead after three innings. A two-RBI double from Jake Reinisch and consecutive RBI-groundouts from Brendan Tinsman and Danny Corona got the Deacs on the scoreboard with four runs in the top of the seventh. The Demon Deacons loaded the bases in the ninth and pushed across a run as Nick Kurtz drew Wake Forest's 11th walk of the game.
Opponent & Series history
Wake Forest and Liberty have previously met 30 times, with the first meeting coming in 1971.
Last season, the Flames defeated the Demon Deacons 8-4 in Lynchburg, Va. The second game of the home-and-home was canceled due to inclement weather.
Best Start Since 2012
After claiming their first ACC series victory of the 2022 season with wins on Friday and Saturday at No. 6 Georgia Tech, the Demon Deacons are off to their best start through 20 games since the 2012 season when Wake Forest also began the year 16-4:
Best Starts Through 20 Games since 2000:
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2002: 17-3
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2022: 16-4
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2012: 16-4
The Deacs got off to one of the best starts in program history with an 11-0 record, the first time since 1961 Wake Forest has won their first 11 games. At that point of the season, Wake Forest stood as one of five unbeaten teams in Division I. The Deacs best starts to begin a season:
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11-0: 2022, 1961, 1949
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12-0: 1949
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13-0: 1949
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14-0: 1949
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15-0: 1949
Wake Forest's 11-straight wins marked the longest winning streak overall since the Deacs won 15 in a row during the 2012 season. Wake Forest became the second team in the nation to reach 11 wins.
Historic Offensive Performance in ATL Clinches First ACC Series of 2022
The Demon Deacon offense exploded in their second game against Georgia Tech, setting a new program record for most runs (27) and hits (28) in an ACC game.
Wake Forest's 28 hits rank tied for third in program history, while their 27 runs stand as the sixth-most runs scored in a single game:
Single-Game Runs in Program History
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30 vs. Davidson (2.24.00) W, 30-4
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30 vs. Campbell (4.23.92) W, 30-1
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30 vs. UNC Asheville (3.9.92) W, 30-7
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30 vs. Campbell (3.12.79) W, 30-5
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28 vs. Rhode Island (3.18.88) W, 28-1
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27 vs. Georgia Tech (3.19.22), W, 27-7
Single-Game Hits in Program History
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30 vs. Campbell (4.23.92) W, 30-1
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29 vs. Davidson (2.24.00) W, 30-4
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28 vs. Georgia Tech (3.19.22), W, 27-7
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28 vs. UNC Asheville (3.9.92) W, 30-7
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28 vs. E. Tenn. St. (3.28.90) W, 21-4
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28 vs. Liberty (3.25.88) W, 23-5
Additionally, the 20-run margin of victory is the second-highest in program history for an ACC game as the Demon Deacons defeated Georgia Tech by 21 runs on April 16, 1999.
20 Runs or More in an ACC Game
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at Georgia Tech (March 19, 2022) - W, 27-7
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vs. Pitt (April 13, 2019) - W, 20-8
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vs. Maryland (May 24, 2005) - W, 20-13*
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vs. Maryland (April 23, 2004) - W, 21-16
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at Maryland (April 27, 2001) - W, 20-3
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at Georgia Tech (April 16, 1999) - W, 22-1
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vs. Maryland (April 9, 1994) - W, 20-6
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vs. Duke (April 5, 1988) - W, 21-4
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at Georgia Tech (April 4, 1981) - L, 20-21
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vs. Clemson (April 24, 1976) - W, 22-9
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vs. Clemson (May 4, 1962) - W, 20-4*
* Denotes in ACC Tournament
This year's squad became the first team since 2003 (sixth all-time) to score at least 20 runs in three games in a season. Additionally, this ties the most 20-run game in a single season in program history.
Wake Forest's bats erupted for 12 runs in the fifth inning to jump out to a 18-5 lead as the Deacs tallied 10 hits and three home runs.
Brock Wilken blasted two home runs in the frame. Tinsman joined Wilken with a long fly in the inning, his second of the game.
After Wilken's leadoff home run, the next 10 Demon Deacons reached base safely as Wake Forest scored 10 runs before a single out was recorded.
With the bases loaded, Wake Forest tallied consecutive RBI-singles from Hawke, Kurtz, Bennett and Michael Turconi.
Wilken became the first Demon Deacon since 2017 to hit two home runs in one inning (Nick DiPonzio on April 4). Overall, Wilken tallied four RBIs on his pair of home runs in the inning.
Defense and Pitching Thriving Early
On the mound, Wake Forest's starting pitchers have accounted for 56.3 percent of the team's innings (99-of-176). Additionally, the Deacs' starters have tallied 50.1 percent of the team's overall strikeouts (98-of-193).
The Demon Deacons have been able to rely on their bullpen as four relievers have given up three runs or less this season (six innings pitched minimum):
In the series opener against No. 6 Georgia Tech, the Deacs gave up just three runs, tying the Yellow Jackets' season low.
Overall, the Deacs have only conceded 67 earned runs through 20 games (3.35 per game) and have held opponents to five or less runs in every game except two. 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.
Five Wake Forest arms have held opponents to a sub-.100 batting average (at least six innings minimum):
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Gabe Golob - .159 in 13.2 innings
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Crawford Wade- .184 in 10.1 innings
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Camden Minacci- .155 in 17.0 innings
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Derek Crum- .194 in 11.1 innings
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Eric Adler- .176 in 9.1 innings
Heading into Tuesday's game, Wake Forest is fourth in the ACC with a .978 fielding percentage (32nd in the country).
Additionally, Brendan Tinsman has caught eight base runners trying to steal a base, the most in the ACC.
Kurtz Posts Historic Performance at the Plate on Saturday
Nick Kurtz had a historic day on Saturday at the plate against Georgia Tech on Saturday as the freshman became the first Wake Forest batter since 2005 to record six hits in the game. This is also tied for the second most in program history and is the most by a freshman in school history.
Most hits in a single game
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7, Ryan Hubbard vs. Maryland (March 16, 2003)
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6, Nick Kurtz vs. Georgia Tech (March 19, 2022)
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6, Billy Masse vs. Liberty (March 25, 1988)
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6, Brian Grief vs. Francis Marion (March 13, 1983)
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6, Ben Ingold vs. Clemson (May 14, 2005)
Mascolo's Midweek Magic
Reed Mascolo is set to make his fourth start of 2022 against the Flames on Tuesday.
Since 2021, Wake Forest has posted a 9-1 record when Mascolo gets the nod as the midweek starter, registering wins over Charlotte, Appalachian State (twice), Elon (twice), Western Carolina (twice), 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 six games, striking out 13 while walking just seven batters in 12.2 innings. Mascolo holds a 2.13 ERA as he has conceded just three 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
On Deck
The Deacs continue their ACC schedule with their third-consecutive conference series against a ranked foe as No. 4 Virginia heads to Winston-Salem on March 25-27 for a three-game set at David F. Couch Ballpark.
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