Wake Forest-Liberty Set for Midweek Clash

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest baseball team continues their seven-game homestand with a midweek clash against non-conference opponent Liberty on Tuesday, May 3 at David F. Couch Ballpark.

Wake Forest (31-13, 10-11 ACC) is coming off a doubleheader sweep against Longwood on Saturday, outscoring the non-league foe 30-4 across two seven-inning games.

With the 18-3 victory in game one of the doubleheader, Wake Forest reeled in its 30th win of the season, the fastest Demon Deacon squad to reach the 30-win mark since 2017. Overall, it is tied for the fourth-fastest since 2000 and the fastest in the Coach Walter era.

The second game of the home-and-home non-conference series between the Demon Deacons and Flames (28-14, 14-7 A-Sun) is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra. Additionally, fans can also tune into an audio streaming broadcast through the Wake Forest Athletics app.

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.

Every midweek game this season at David F. Couch Ballpark features the fan-favorite "$5 Midweek" promotion. Fans can take advantage of general admission tickets to the game for only $5 while enjoying $5 Deacon Brew throughout the game.

Promotions

Tres De Mayo: Taco Tuesday
- First 100 fans will receive a voucher for free tacos

Opponent & Series History
Wake Forest and Liberty have previously met 31 times, with the first meeting coming in 1971. The Demon Deacons hold a 22-9 advantage in the all-time series.

On March 22, Wake Forest reeled in its fourth top-15 win of the season against the Flames in Lynchburg, Va. as the Demon Deacons posted a 13-6 victory.

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.

Last Time Out
Behind a complete team performance, the Wake Forest baseball team swept a Saturday doubleheader against Longwood at David F. Couch Ballpark.

The Demon Deacons tallied 35 hits, launched seven home runs and struck out 19 batters across 10 scoreless innings in the pair of Saturday wins.

The combination of five home runs, a 10-run fifth inning and another strong start from Rhett Lowder on the mound allowed Wake Forest to take control of the opening contest.

Lowder earned his eighth win of the season, tossing five innings with six strikeouts while allowing two runs and no walks.

Gabe Golob and Will Andrews combined for the final six outs. Golob tossed a scoreless six inning with a trio of ground outs. Andrew fanned a pair of batters to close out the victory in the top of the seventh.

Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first, the Demon Deacons scored the game's next 12 runs as Josh Hartle and Teddy McGraw combined for 11 strikeouts and just three walks across six-straight scoreless innings.

Hartle allowed just one earned run and allowed zero free passes to earn the fifth win of his freshman campaign.

McGraw blanked the Lancers over the last three innings, allowing no hits to go along with six strikeouts. In his first inning of work in the fifth, the sophomore struck out the side on just 10 pitches.

Pierce Bennett led Wake Forest at the plate in the twin bill, tallying seven hits in nine plate appearances with a home run, one double and five RBIs. In game one of the double header, Bennett went a perfect 5-5 at the plate.

Top Notes

Head coach Tom Walter, the second-winningest coach in program history, won his 350th game at the helm of the Wake Forest baseball program with the 16-11 series finale victory against Duke on Sunday.
Wake Forest's 31 wins are tied for the most in the ACC's Atlantic division and ranks third overall in the conference.
- With the 18-3 victory in game one of the doubleheader, Wake Forest reeled in its 30th win of the season, the fastest Demon Deacon squad to reach the 30-win mark since 2017. Overall, it is tied for the fourth-fastest since 2000 and the fastest in the Coach Walter era.
The Deacs have picked up five wins against top-15 opponents, four coming in ACC play.
Wake Forest has one of the top offenses in the entire nation and ACC as the Deacs rank in the top three in the conference in every offensive category, highlighted by a conference-best 266 walks, .323 batting average and 422 runs. Additionally, the Deacs rank in the top 10 nationally in batting average (second), on-base percentage (second), runs (third), walks (fourth), hits (fifth), slugging percentage (sixth) and home runs (seventh).
The 2022 Wake Forest offense is one of the most productive offenses in program history as this year's squad owns the program record for games with 20-plus runs (four) as well as 20-plus run games against ACC competition (two). In back-to-back games, Wake Forest posted their fourth and fifth games this season with at least 20 hits.
- Feb. 22: vs. UNC Greensboro, 21 hits (23 runs)
- March 19: at Georgia Tech, 28 hits (27 runs)
- April 2: at Boston College, 22 hits (20 runs)
- April 27: at Gardner-Webb, 21 hits (17 runs)
- April 30: vs. Longwood, 22 hits (18 runs)
Pierce Bennett led Wake Forest with a team-high average of .813 with a team-high 13 hits, two home runs and a team-high tying 10 RBIs last week.
- Additionally, Bennett posted team highs in slugging percentage (1.313), on-base percentage (.833) and stolen bases (2).
- In the opening game of the Demon Deacons' doubleheader against Longwood, Bennett went a perfect 5-for-5 with four RBIs and a home run.
- The five hits marked a new career high as Bennett became the first Demon Deacon to finish with five hits in a game since 2019.
On the mound, Wake Forest's starting pitchers have combined for 192.1 innings with 192 strikeouts and just 99 earned runs allowed.
10 Demon Deacons have notched at least 10 base hits this season, led by Bennett with a career-high 61 base knocks. 12 Deacs have hit a long fly this season, led by Brendan Tinsman with 17.
Additionally, Wake Forest is just one of three teams in the ACC with four players with at least 10 home runs.
Wake Forest has been patient at the plate as the Deacs have been walked 266 times, the most in the ACC and the fourth most in the entire nation.
Wake Forest is the only school in the ACC with more than two players ranked in the top-10 for on-base percentage.
- Tommy Hawke (second), Jake Reinisch (fourth), Nick Kurtz (seventh), Pierce Bennett (10th)
Seth Keener is scheduled to make his ninth start of the season on Tuesday.
- Keener has struck out five or more batters in four appearances this season, while conceding no walks in five.
- When Keener starts, Wake Forest holds a 7-1 record.
Jake Reinisch has reached base in 43-straight games and leads Wake Forest with 41 walks.
- Reinisch leads the ACC in walks while ranking fourth in on-base percentage.
- In the series finale against Notre Dame, Reinisch launched a three-run home run and tallied a career-high four RBIs.
Camden Minacci has been the most relied upon arm coming out of the Wake Forest bullpen this season. In 31.2 innings, the sophomore has struck out 46 batters while only allowing six earned runs. Minacci's career-high 46 strikeouts rank second on the team, while he sports the lowest ERA (1.71) on the squad.
- Minacci has also tallied five saves, the fifth-most in the ACC, highlighted by slamming the door in three-straight games against Elon (April 6), Duke (April 8) and Duke (April 9).
- In nine of Minacci's 22 appearances this season, the righthander has blanked the opposition, allowing no hits or runs.
- On Wednesday, Minacci was one of 62 relief pitchers named to the Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List.
Brendan Tinsman has posted a career year in his fourth season in the Old Gold and Black, posting career highs in hits (60), doubles (11), home runs (17), RBIs (52) and slugging percentage (.726).
- Tinsman has homered in eight of Wake Forest's last 14 games as the redshirt junior is fourth in the ACC and 10th in the country in long flies.
- Tinsman leads the Deacs in slugging, home runs, multi-hit games and multi-RBI games.
- The catcher heads into the midweek on a team-high 14 game hit streak.
  - Over the course of his streak that dates back to April 9, Tinsman is batting .375 with a team-high 21 hits, eight home runs, 24 RBIs and having an .857 slugging percentage. Tinsman's next home run will place him on Wake Forest's top-10 single season home list.
Michael Turconi, a career .304 hitter, has put together a career year as the shortstop has posted career bests in hits (55), home runs (10), walks (32), triples (4), RBIs (48), slugging (.589), average (.327), on-base (.437) and stolen bases (5).
Brock Wilken reached a career milestone on Saturday, registering his 100th career hit with his three-run home run to end the second game of the double header. In 90 career contests, Wilken has 100 hits with 22 doubles, 31 home runs and 98 RBIs.
- In the month of April, Wilken posted a .296 average with 24 hits, three doubles, eight home runs, a team-high 30 RBIs, a slugging percentage of .630 and an on-base percentage of .412.
- In two wins against Longwood, Wilken went 5-for-8 with a team-high three home runs and nine RBIs.
Freshman Nick Kurtz has strung together a stellar freshman campaign, tallying a .343 batting average with 49 hits to go along with a team-high tying 11 doubles and 10 home runs.
- With his pair of home runs against Clemson in the series finale, Kurtz is now tied for eighth for most home runs by a freshman in program history.
- He joins Brock Wilken (17 in 2021) and Brendan Tinsman (10 in 2019) as the only first-year Deacs to reach double-digit home runs since 2010.
- Additionally, Kurtz already ranks in the top-10 in runs scored (third) and walks (tied for fourth) by a freshman in program history.

On Deck
The Demon Deacons continue their homestand as they welcome nationally-ranked Louisville in their final home ACC series of the season on Friday, May 6 to Sunday, May 8.

On Saturday, May 7, Wake Forest will honor its nine senior and graduate student-athletes for all their contributions to the Demon Deacon baseball team.

The Deacs host High Point on Tuesday, May 10 in their final home game of the 2022 season. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Will Andrews

Pierce Bennett

Gabe Golob

Josh Hartle

Tommy Hawke

Seth Keener

Nick Kurtz

Rhett Lowder

Teddy McGraw

Camden Minacci

Jake Reinisch

Brendan Tinsman

Michael Turconi

Brock Wilken

Wake Forest Athletics