Wake Forest University
26-8, 9-7
Clemson
21-12, 3-9
Wake Forest Falls to Clemson in Series Opener
4/15/2022 11:18:00 PM | Baseball
Rhett Lowder pitched a career-high eight scoreless innings, striking out a career-high tying 11 batters while allowing just three hits and walking one batter.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 23 Wake Forest baseball team fell, 1-0, Friday night against Clemson in the ACC series opener at David F. Couch Ballpark.
Sophomore Rhett Lowder strung together the best start of his Demon Deacon career, tossing a career-high eight scoreless innings with a career-high tying 11 strikeouts.
Lowder allowed a season-low tying three hits across his career-long day while walking one batter, the fourth time this season the Albemarle, N.C. native has conceded one walk or less.
The righthander came into the series opener as the only pitcher in the ACC and one of just eight pitchers nationally with seven wins. Additionally, Lowder is now just 11 strikeouts away from amassing 150 career strikeouts.
In 2022, Lowder holds a 1.96 ERA across 55 innings and has struck out 61 batters compared to walking just 17.
The series opener between the Demon Deacons (26-8, 9-7 ACC) and Tigers (21-9, 3-9 ACC) was scoreless after eight full innings of game action.
In the ninth, Clemson scored the only run of the game with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
Camden Minacci took the mound in the ninth, striking out a pair.
Brendan Tinsman, Danny Corona, Chris Katz and Tommy Hawke all notched base hits in the first game of Wake Forest's sixth ACC series.
How It Happened
-
Rhett Lowder retired the Tigers in order to open up his ninth start of the season with a trio of groundouts.
-
Nick Kurtz notched a leadoff walk to open the bottom of the first, but a fly out and double play ended Wake Forest's first offensive opportunity.
-
Lowder tossed another zero in the top of the second, including his first strikeout for the second out of the inning.
-
Jake Reinisch reached base with a one-out walk, but a strikeout and fly out ended the frame.
-
Lowder worked around a leadoff single and throwing error to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard in the top of the third.
-
With a runner on second, Lowder induced a ground out back to the mound. The Clemson base runner advanced to third on the play.
-
Undaunted, Lowder forced a ground out and pop up to end the inning.
-
-
Tommy Hawke tallied a one-out single in the bottom of the third and advanced to second with two outs. A pop up to the second basemen ended the scoring threat.
-
Lowder fanned a pair in the top of the fourth, increasing his game total to three, and keeping Clemson off the scoreboard for the fourth-straight inning.
-
After the Deacs were retired in order, Lowder responded with another scoreless frame in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a pair of strikeouts.
-
Lowder increased his game total to five punchouts through five innings.
-
-
A pair of singles from Danny Corona and Chris Katz and a passed ball placed the pair of second and third with two outs in the inning. A hard hit fly out to right field ended the scoring threat as the game remained tied.
-
Brendan Tinsman notched a two-out double in the bottom half of the inning, but a line out to second base ended the inning.
-
Lowder continued to deal in the seventh striking out the side to increase his game total to nine punchouts.
-
Lowder returned and struck out a pair in the top of the eighth, tying his career high with 11 strikeouts.
-
Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the ninth with a sacrifice fly.
-
Camden Minacci took over to open the inning and struck out a pair of base runners.
-
The Tigers loaded the bases with two singles and a hit batter.
-
-
Turconi was hit by a pitch to open the ninth, but Clemson stranded the shortstop as the next three Deacs were retired as the Tigers claimed game one, 1-0.
Words from Walter
"Tonight was a disappointing loss. I can't remember many times losing 1-0. We got to find a way to score and get Rhett that win. You just can't pitch any better than he did. We just didn't have enough good at-bats. Both their pitchers did a really good job. Hit a couple balls hard in the fifth and sixth but just couldn't stack enough good at-bats together. The flip side of that is that their guy in the ninth inning had a really great at-bat to lead off that inning and then Cam hangs an 0-2 slider and it gets hit to left. Then we hit a guy and just beat ourselves there in the ninth. Disappointing loss but really proud of Rhett and the way he pitched tonight. We've got to come back tomorrow and get a win."
On Deck
The Deacs return to the diamond on Saturday at 4:30 pm for game two against the Tigers.
On Saturday, the Deacs will host a charity game to benefit The Parenting PATH, a local organization that supports parents, strengthens families and creates more stable communities.
Wake Forest will don light yellow jerseys in game two of the series. These special-edition jerseys includes a pinwheel, the national symbol for child abuse prevention.
Fans will have the opportunity to bid on the special-edition, game-worn jerseys through our website until 11:59 p.m. on the night of the game. The starting bid for each jersey is $100.
All proceeds from the auction will be donated to The Parenting Path. For bidding, please go here.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Geoffrey Gilbert (2-1)
L: Minacci, Camden (1-1)
Batting:
RBI: Tyler Corbitt 1
SH: Chad Fairey 1
SF: Tyler Corbitt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cooper Ingle 1
HBP: Max Wagner 1
Batting:
2B: Tinsman, Brendan 1
Base Running:
HBP: Turconi, Michael 1
