Wake Forest University
24-7, 8-6
Duke
13-18, 3-11
Wake Forest Downs Duke; Secures Third ACC Series of Season
4/9/2022 8:30:00 PM | Baseball
The Demon Deacons clinch their third conference set of the season, beating their Big Four rival on Friday and Saturday.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In front of the largest crowd since the 2019 season, Wake Forest secured their third ACC series victory of the season, defeating Big Four rival Duke, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at David F. Couch Ballpark.
Following a 5-2 win in the series opener on Friday, the Demon Deacons (24-7, 8-6 ACC) scored a trio of runs in the third and fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead before a run in the seventh pushed their lead to three.
After plating runs in the first two innings, the Deacs kept the Blue Devils (13-18, 3-10 ACC) off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, notching three shutdown innings as Josh Hartle and Gabe Golob retired 15-straight batters, not allowing a Blue Devil base runner in four-consecutive innings.
Hartle posted his fourth win of his freshman season, retiring 10-straight Blue Devils while tossing three-up, three-down frames in the third, fourth and fifth frames.
The King, N.C. native tossed five innings, striking out three while allowing two runs and two hits.
Golob threw 2.1 innings, fanning three while allowing just two hits and no walks.
Golob, Derek Crum and Eric Adler combined to toss a scoreless eighth inning, each inducing an out.
Once again, Camden Minacci was nails in the ninth inning, blanking the Blue Devils for the second-straight game to earn his fourth save of the season.
Nick Kurtz posted a game-high three hits, highlighted by an RBI-double and RBI-single. This marked the 12th multi-hit performance for the freshman this season.
Brendan Tinsman also tallied two RBIs with a sacrifice fly for Wake Forest's first run of the game and a solo home run in the fourth to give the Deacs their first lead.
Tinsman has hit a team-high 10 home runs while owning a .353 batting average, tying with Michael Turconi for a team best.
For the second-straight game, Jake Reinisch came up clutch at the plate, tallying an RBI-double with one out to tie the game at three.
Danny Corona notched his 26th RBI of the season with a pinch hit sacrifice fly in the seventh to push Wake Forest's lead to three.
How It Happened
-
Duke took a 1-0 lead after the top of the first with a walk, passed ball on a strikeout, a stolen base and an RBI fielder's choice.
-
Despite the run, Josh Hartle tossed a hitless frame to open his seventh start of the season. The freshman struck out a batter and forced a fly out in foul territory in addition to the fielder's choice.
-
-
Wake Forest responded with a run of their own, tying the game at 1 in the bottom of the first thanks to a sacrifice fly from Brendan Tinsman.
-
Nick Kurtz was plated on Tinsman's RBI as the leadoff hitter drew a walk.
-
Brock Wilken singled to right field, pushing Kurtz to third as Wake Forest placed runners on the corners with no one out.
-
-
Duke broke the tie with a two-run home run with two outs to take hold of a 3-1 lead.
-
Wake Forest trimmed the Blue Devil lead to one with a two-out RBI-double from Kurtz, which scored Pierce Bennett from first.
-
The Deacs loaded the bases as Wilken was intentionally walked and Michael Turconi was hit by a pitch. A strikeout ended the scoring opportunity.
-
-
Hartle tossed a perfect three-up, three-down inning in the top of the third with two ground outs and a fly out.
-
RBI-doubles from Jake Reinisch and Kurtz gave Wake Forest their first lead (4-3) of the game in the bottom of the third.
-
Hartle returned to the mound in the top of the fourth, retiring the Blue Devils in order for the second-straight inning.
-
To open the frame, Hartle punched out his third batter of the game.
-
-
Brendan Tinsman launched his team-leading 10th home run of the season to push the Demon Deacon lead to 5-3 after four full innings.
-
Hartle induced a trio of ground outs in the top of the fifth as the left hander retired 10 Blue Devils in a row to end his start and keep Wake Forest's advantage at 5-3.
-
Kurtz tallied his third hit of the ballgame in the bottom half of the frame, but a strikeout ended the inning.
-
Gabe Golob took over on the mound in the top of the sixth, pitching Wake Forest's fourth-consecutive three-up, three-down inning.
-
Adam Cecere made a diving catch in deep left center for the first out of the frame.
-
Golob fanned a Blue Devil to end the inning.
-
-
Golob returned in the seventh as the right hander kept the Blue Devils off the scoreboard for the fifth-straight inning.
-
Golob fanned a pair in the frame, increasing his game total to three strikeouts.
-
-
Wake Forest tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh as Danny Corona registered a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Tommy Hawke (leadoff walk).
-
Golob, Derek Crum and Eric Adler combined to pitch a scoreless eighth. Golob induced a groundout back to the mound before Crum forced an unassisted groundout to Kurtz, who made a diving play for the second out of the inning. Adler came in with a runner on second and forced a pop up to Corona in shallow right field.
-
Tinsman tallied his second base hit of the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. The redshirt junior was stranded as a strikeout ended the inning.
-
Camden Minacci secured Saturday's three-run win, inducing all three outs in the top of the ninth for the second-straight game.
-
Minacci took over for Eric Adler on the mound in the ninth with runners on first and second and no one out.
-
Words from Walter
"It's always good to win a series at home. I was pleased with how Josh Hartle pitched tonight. He settled in and made some really good pitches for us. I was excited to see him shut down the third, fourth and fifth innings while our offense scored some runs for him. Gabe Golob stepped up for us tonight and got six important outs. It's always good to win a series in this league. It's hard to do. We need to come out tomorrow and play good baseball. Duke is a good ball club and we need to be ready to go."
On Deck
Wake Forest looks to sweep the ACC series against Duke on Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m. inside David F. Couch Ballpark.
The series finale is set to be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hartle, Josh (4-3)
L: Fox,Luke (1-5)
S: Minacci, Camden (4)
Batting:
2B: Yu,Andrew 1
HR: Hoyle,Wil 1
RBI: Knight,Chad 1 ; Hoyle,Wil 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mooney,Alex 1 ; Yu,Andrew 1 ; Hoyle,Wil 1
SB: Mooney,Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Kurtz, Nick 1 ; Katz, Chris 1 ; Reinisch, Jake 1
HR: Tinsman, Brendan 1
RBI: Kurtz, Nick 2 ; Tinsman, Brendan 2 ; Reinisch, Jake 1 ; Corona, Danny 1
SF: Tinsman, Brendan 1 ; Corona, Danny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kurtz, Nick 1 ; Tinsman, Brendan 1 ; Katz, Chris 1 ; Hawke, Tommy 1 ; Reinisch, Jake 1 ; Bennett, Pierce 1
HBP: Turconi, Michael 1
