Wake Forest University
Virginia
Wake Forest Returns Home for ACC Weekend Series Against Virginia
3/24/2022 1:25:00 PM | Baseball
The No. 24 Demon Deacons welcome the No. 10 Cavaliers to David F. Couch Ballpark for three games this weekend.
Game Notes | Stream (Friday) | Stream (Saturday) | Stream (Sunday) | Live Stats (Friday) | Live Stats (Saturday) | Live Stats (Sunday)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- The No. 24 Wake Forest baseball team continues their ACC schedule with their third-consecutive conference series against a ranked foe as No. 10 Virginia heads to Winston-Salem on March 25-27 for a three-game set at David F. Couch Ballpark.
The Demon Deacons (17-4, 3-3 ACC) secured their fourth top-15 victory with a 13-6 win at No. 15 Liberty on Tuesday.
Wake Forest, who is off to their best start since 2002, has outscored their opponents 220-87 to open the new campaign with a team batting average of .329 with a .446 on-base percentage and team ERA of just 3.45 as the Deacs have held opponent to five runs or less in 18 games this season.
The series opener on Friday is set for a 6 p.m. start while Saturday's contest will begin at 4 p.m. The series finale on Sunday is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
All three games 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
With ticket demand at an all-time high this season, avoid the lines and purchase your tickets in advance at GoDeacs.com/tickets.
Admission starts at only $5 for general admission access, while reserved seats are available for as low as $10 for adults and $8 for youth. A limited number of other premium options are also available and can be purchased online. Fans may upgrade their experience by purchasing single-game access to the All-American Club for only $15 per ticket.
Promotions
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Friday - Free Shirsey Friday
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First 200 fans will receive a #22 Deacons Shirsey
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Saturday - Pups at the Park
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Fans are invited to bring their pup to the game. The first 250 pups will receive a Wake Forest Bandana. Pups can also enjoy a treat table with dog bones and puppy snacks while supplies last. Pups and their owners are asked to sit in the puppy zone along the first baseline in the general admission seating area.
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Sunday - Kids Day at The Couch | Trading Card Giveaway
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The first 100 fans will receive pack #2 of the 2022 Wake Forest Baseball trading card giveaway.
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Kids are invited to run the bases following the game and stay for post game autographs with select student-athletes from the baseball team. Postgame autographs will take place on the concourse behind 3rd base.
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Last Time Out
The No. 24 Wake Forest baseball team earned their fourth victory against a top-15 opponent on Tuesday March 22, defeating No. 15 Liberty, 13-6, at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
The Deacs jumped out to a 1-0 lead over the Flames in the first inning and never looked back, scoring runs in the third, fourth, seventh, eighth innings before plating five runs in the ninth to post their ninth double-digit scoring game of the season.
Overall, the top of the Demon Deacon lineup produced in a big way during the midweek showdown as Wake Forest's one through six hitters drove in 10 of Wake Forest's 13 runs and combined for 13 hits.
Wake Forest tallied 16 base hits, the most Liberty has given up all season and the Demon Deacons' 13th double-digit hit game of the season.
Nick Kurtz launched a pair of two-run home runs and now leads Wake Forest with seven long flies on the year while Pierce Bennett posted a team-high four hits, including a two-run home run, marking the second time this season the Baltimore, Md. native has tallied four base knocks.
Michael Turconi and Tommy Hawke joined Bennett with multiple-RBIs. Brock Wilken registered his sixth home run of the season with a solo shot in the top of the seventh.
Opponent & Series history
Wake Forest and Virginia have faced off 166 times prior to this year's three-game set as the Deacs hold a 86-80 advantage in the all-time series.
In the Cavaliers' last trip to Winston-Salem in 2018, the Demon Deacons took the series with victories in game one as well as the rubber match.
Best Start in 20 Years
After claiming their first ACC series victory of the 2022 season with wins on Friday and Saturday at No. 6 Georgia Tech and defeating No. 15 Liberty this past Tuesday, the Demon Deacons are off to their best start through 21 games since the 2002 season when Wake Forest also began the year 17-4:
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Best Starts since 2000:
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2022: 17-4
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2002: 17-4
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2012: 16-5
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Four of Wake Forest's wins have come against top-15 opponents with victories against then-No. 8 Florida State, then-No. 6 Georgia Tech twice and No. 15 Liberty.
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:
- 11-0: 2022, 1961, 1949
- 12-0: 1949
- 13-0: 1949
- 14-0: 1949
- 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 Season
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.
Pitching & Defense Thriving
On the mound, Wake Forest's starting pitchers have accounted for half of the team's innings and strikeouts.
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 71 earned runs through 24 games (2.96 per game) and have held opponents to five or less runs in every game except three. Their team ERA ranks fourth 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.
Four Wake Forest arms have held opponents to a sub-.100 batting average (at least nine innings minimum):
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Gabe Golob - .163 in 15.0 innings
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Eric Adler- .171 in 9.1 innings
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Camden Minacci- .172 in 18.1 innings
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Crawford Wade- .178 in 12.1 innings
Heading into this weekend, Wake Forest is fifth in the ACC with a .977 fielding percentage.
Brendan Tinsman has caught eight base runners trying to steal a base, the most in the ACC.
Rake Forest
Wake Forest has one of the top offenses in the entire nation and ACC as the Deacs rank in the top five in the ACC in every offensive categories, while ranking in the top-10 nationally in those same categories:
| Category | National | ACC |
| Walks | 3 | 1 |
| Hits | 3 | 3 |
| Runs | 4 | 3 |
| On-Base Percentage | 5 | 2 |
| Home Runs | 6 | 3 |
| Slugging Percentage | 6 | 4 |
| Batting Average | 6 | 2 |
10 Demon Deacons have notched at least 10 base hits this season, led by Pierce Bennett with 30.
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30- Pierce Bennett
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29- Nick Kurtz
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26- Brendan Tinsman
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24- Brock Wilken
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21- Jake Reinisch
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18- Danny Corona
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17- Tommy Hawke
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13- Chris Katz
11 Deacs have hit a long fly this season while four Wake Forest batters have hit at least five.
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7- Nick Kurtz
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1- Mark Black, Kyle Joye
Against Liberty, Wake Forest registered 16 base hits, their 13th double-digit hit game of the season, and tallied their fourth game with at least four home runs:
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8- UNC Greensboro
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4- VCU, Georgia Tech, Liberty
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)
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Argentina: 29 runs
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Brazil: 23 runs
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Columbia: 8 runs
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Nicaragua: 8 runs
2022 (63 runs)
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Lafayette (Feb. 18): 25 runs
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Georgetown (Feb. 19): 9 runs
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VCU (Feb. 20): 6 runs
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UNC-Greensboro: 23 runs
Lowder Leading The Charge
After another strong performance from the Demon Deacon Friday starter against Georgia Tech, Rhett Lowder remained perfect on the season as he is now 5-0 with a 2.22 season ERA.
Lowder became the first starting pitcher in the ACC with five wins last Friday, striking out five Georgia Tech batters while allowing just two earned runs in five innings.
This season, Lowder has posted a team-high 34 strikeouts (seventh in the ACC) compared to just 11 walks as opponents are only hitting .222 against him.
Last season, Lowder tallied 78 punchouts, the third most by a freshman in Wake Forest history.
Kurtz Off To Hot Start
After a historic day at the plate on Saturday against Georgia Tech, Nick Kurtz tallied two home runs, a double and RBIs to lead Wake Forest to their road victory at Liberty.
Kurtz became the first Wake Forest batter since 2005 to record six hits in the game in Atlanta. 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)
Kurtz heads into the weekend leading the Deacs in home runs (27). RBIs (29), and bases (55). Additionally, he ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in all offensive categories.
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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