Wake Forest University
37-16-1, 13-14-1
NC State
33-18, 14-13
Lowder Throws Complete-Game Gem; Deacs Take Game One at NC State, 8-2
5/19/2022 10:52:00 PM | Baseball
The sophomore threw the first complete game by a Demon Deacon since 2017 on just 87 pitches, striking out six while walking no batters.
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team used a complete-game gem from sophomore righthander Rhett Lowder to claim the series opener, 8-2, against NC State Thursday night at Doak Field.
Lowder tossed the first complete game by a Demon Deacon (37-16-1, 13-14-1 ACC) since 2017 on just 87 pitches, striking out six batters while allowing just five hits and no walks.
The Albemarle, N.C. native started strong, fanning three of the first seven Wolfpack batters he faced and retiring seven straight from the final out of the first inning until the end of the third.
Lowder threw perfect 1-2-3 innings in the second, third, fifth and ninth while facing more than four NC State batters in just one frame.
The outstanding performance earned Lowder his 10th win of the season as the sophomore became just the 10th pitcher in program history to reach double-digit victories in a single campaign.
In 10 of his 14 starts this season, Lowder has pitched at least six innings while allowing no more than three earned runs in any appearance.
Offensively, Wake Forest blasted two home runs and strung together a clutch five-run ninth inning to back up Lowder's gem.
Brock Wilken blasted his 19th home run of the season to give Wake Forest an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
Brendan Tinsman extended the Demon Deacon advantage to 3-1 in the top of the eighth inning with an RBI-single, scoring Pierce Bennett from second.
After NC State trimmed Wake Forest's lead to one in the bottom of the eighth, the Demon Deacon offense exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth. Michael Turconi blasted a three-run home run off the scoreboard before Adam Cecere notched a two-out, two-run double to push Wake Forest's lead to six and ultimately seal the series opener.
How It Happened
-
Michael Turconi notched a two-out single to right field for Wake Forest's first base runner of the series opener. A groundout stranded the redshirt junior and ended the top of the first.
-
Brock Wilken lasered a two-run home run over the left field wall, giving the Demon Deacons a 2-0 lead after the top of the second.
-
Nick Kurtz led off the inning with a single down the right field line and scored on Wilken's 19th long fly of the year.
-
-
Lowder retired the Wolfpack in order in the bottom of the second with a ground out followed by back-to-back strikeouts.
-
Tommy Hawke notched a leadoff single and advanced to third base with a groundout and fly out. A groundout stranded the freshman as Wake Forest took their 2-0 lead into the bottom of the frame.
-
Lowder once again retired NC State in order in the bottom of the third, inducing a fly out and back-to-back ground outs.
-
Kurtz walked to lead off the fourth before stealing second after two Deacs were retired. A fly out ended the top of the inning.
-
A solo home run cut into Wake Forest's lead (2-1) in the bottom of the fourth. Lowder retired the next batter before working around a one-out single and hit batter with a ground out back to the mound.
-
Wake Forest put the leadoff batter on base for the fourth-straight inning as Danny Corona was hit by a pitch. Corona advanced to second on a hit and run, but a fly out to deep right field ended the inning.
-
Lowder tossed another perfect three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by his fourth and fifth strikeout of the game.
-
Kurtz notched his second walk of the night to open the top of the sixth, but the next three Deacs were retired to end the frame.
-
Lowder returned to the mound in the sixth and tossed his fifth scoreless inning, inducing a trio of groundouts.
-
Lowder continued to deal in the bottom of the seventh, tossing his third-straight scoreless frame with a trio of groundouts.
-
A NC State batter reached on a throwing error with two outs, but Lowder fielded another dribbler back to the mound for the third and final out.
-
-
Wake Forest increased their lead to 3-1 in the top of the eight thanks to a Brendan Tinsman RBI-single with one out. Pierce Bennett scored from second on Tinsman's 58th RBI of the year.
-
After the run, a pair of walks drawn from Kurtz and Cecere loaded the bases with two outs. A ground out ended the scoring opportunity.
-
-
A two-out solo home run in the bottom half of the inning trimmed Wake Forest's lead to one (3-2) after eight full innings.
-
Lowder retired the opening batters of the frame with a strikeout and foul out to Tinsman behind home plate.
-
-
The Deacs responded in the top of the ninth, plating five runs thanks to a three-run home run by Turconi and a two-out, two-run double from Cecere. Wake Forest's 23rd inning with five or more runs extended their lead to 8-2.
-
Lowder finished the game in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the Wolfpack in order for the fourth time of the game to seal the 8-2 series-opening victory.
Standout Stat
Rhett Lowder threw the first complete game by a Demon Deacon since 2017 on just 87 pitches, striking out six batters while walking no one.
The outstanding performance earned Lowder his 10th win of the season as the sophomore became just the 10th pitcher in program history and the first since 2016 to reach double-digit victories in a season.
Most Wins In A Season
-
Kyle Sleeth -14 (2002)
-
Mike MacDougal -13 (1999)
-
John Hendricks -13 (1998)
-
Scott Siemon -11 (2000)
-
Rhett Lowder - 10 (2022)
-
Parker Dunshee -10 (2016)
-
Kyle Sleeth -10 (2001)
-
Ross Atkins -10 (1995)
-
Mike Buddie -10 (1992)
-
Lefty Davis - 10 (1955)
In 10 of his 14 starts this season, Lowder has pitched at least six innings while allowing no more than three earned runs in any appearance.
Overall, Lowder holds a 10-3 record and has struck out 94 batters in 88 innings.
Coming into the weekend, Lowder was the only pitcher in the ACC to rank in the top three in wins, strikeouts and ERA:
-
Wins- Tied for first
-
ERA-2.51- Second
-
Strikeouts- Third
In his career, the Albemarle, N.C. native has amassed a 14-5 record with an ERA of 4.05 in 155.2 innings. Additionally, Lowder has fanned 172 batters compared to allowing just 41 walks.
Wake Forest's offense ranks as one the top-scoring attacks in the entire nation. One of the main contributors to their success is scoring runs in bunches as the Deacs have now scored five runs or more in an inning 23 times this season. Additionally, Wake Forest has pushed across five runs in three-straight games:
-
Feb. 18: Lafayette - 16 runs (fifth inning)
-
Feb. 18: Lafayette - 8 runs (sixth inning)
-
Feb. 22: UNCG - 6 runs (first inning)
-
Feb. 22: UNCG - 6 runs (third inning)
-
Feb. 22: UNCG - 6 runs (eighth inning)
-
Feb. 25: NJIT - 6 runs (second inning)
-
Feb. 25: NJIT - 6 runs (seventh inning)
-
Feb. 26: NJIT - 5 runs (seventh inning)
-
March 1: Elon - 5 runs (seventh inning)
-
March 15: WCU - 7 runs (third inning)
-
March 19: Georgia Tech - 12 runs (fifth inning)
-
March 22: Liberty - 5 runs (ninth inning)
-
March 30: Coastal Carolina - 6 runs (sixth inning)
-
April 1: Boston College - 7 runs (seventh inning)
-
April 2: Boston College - 6 runs (first inning)
-
April 10: Duke - 6 runs (third inning)
-
April 16: Clemson - 7 runs (first inning)
-
April 24: Notre Dame - 5 runs (fifth inning)
-
April 27: Gardner-Webb - 5 runs (third inning)
-
April 30: Longwood (Game One) - 10 runs (fifth inning)
-
May 15: North Carolina - 5 runs (third inning)
-
May 17: Appalachian State - 7 runs (seventh inning)
-
May 19: NC State - 5 runs (ninth inning)
Brock Wilken is now in sole possession of the 10th-most home runs by a Demon Deacon in a single season with his second-inning long fly as the Valrico, Fla. native has blasted 19 home runs this year.
Single-Season Home Runs
1. Billy Masse (1988) - 24
2. Bobby Seymour (2021) - 21
Gavin Sheets (2017) - 21
Jamie D'Antona (2003) - 21
5. Brendan Tinsman (2022) - 20
Johnny Aiello (2017) - 20
Jamie D'Antona (2002) - 20
Danny Borrell (1999) - 20
Chris Kowilcik (1991) - 20
Bill Merrifield (1982) - 20
10. Brock Wilken (2022) - 19
This marks just the third season in program history that two Demon Deacons have landed on the list in the same year (1999, 2017, 2022) as Brendan Tinsman's career-high 20 home runs are tied for fifth.
As a team, the Deacs are just four home runs away from setting another program record this season (106, 2017).
Words From Walter
"You just can't pitch any better than that. I'm just so proud of Rhett Lowder. Hometown state. A big win that the team needed. He clutched up for us. He just kept making pitch after pitch. I don't know if I've ever seen a complete game under 90 pitches before, which sets him up for the conference tournament. Six strikeouts and no walks.
"We played good defense. Danny Corona made a really good play there in the ninth. We had some clutch hitting. Brock's home run. Tinny's base hit to right. Turc's home run. Cec's double in the gap. We got the big at-bats. We didn't have a great day offensively, but we found a way to push across eight runs and get a huge win. We'll come out here tomorrow with a fresh bullpen. It will be really nice to go into two games of the series with a fresh bullpen. I'm excited to get out there."
On Deck
The Demon Deacons look to clinch their fourth ACC series of the season on Saturday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. inside Doak Field.
The game two showdown will be available on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lowder, Rhett (10-3)
L: Logan Whitaker (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Cecere, Adam 1
HR: Turconi, Michael 1 ; Wilken, Brock 1
RBI: Turconi, Michael 3 ; Tinsman, Brendan 1 ; Wilken, Brock 2 ; Cecere, Adam 2
SH: Hawke, Tommy 1 ; Turconi, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bennett, Pierce 2 ; Turconi, Michael 1 ; Kurtz, Nick 2 ; Wilken, Brock 2 ; Corona, Danny 1
SB: Kurtz, Nick 1
HBP: Corona, Danny 1
Batting:
HR: LuJames Groover III 1 ; Tommy White 1
RBI: LuJames Groover III 1 ; Tommy White 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LuJames Groover III 1 ; Tommy White 1
HBP: Tommy White 1 ; J.T. Jarrett 1
