Wake Forest Athletics
Lowder Named Perfect Game Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year; Four Deacs Land on Preseason All-ACC Team
1/14/2023 1:25:00 PM | Baseball
A week after landing a nation’s best five selections to the outlet’s Preseason All-America teams, Wake Forest placed a conference-best four honorees on Perfect Game’s Preseason All-Conference team.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest baseball preseason All-American Rhett Lowder was selected as the 2023 Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game. Additionally, Lowder was joined by preseason All-Americans Nick Kurtz, Brock Wilken and Teddy McGraw on the outlet's Preseason All-Conference team.
The Demon Deacons led the Atlantic Coast Conference with four honorees. Last week, Wake Forest had five selections on Perfect Game's All-America teams, the most in the nation, and was ranked No. 5 in PG's Preseason Poll.
Reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder
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After one of the greatest seasons by a Wake Forest pitcher ever, Rhett Lowder returns to Winston-Salem for his third year in the Old Gold and Black in 2023.
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In 2022, Lowder became the first Demon Deacon in program history to be named ACC Pitcher of the Year, the third Unanimous All-American in program history and the first Demon Deacon ever to be named a finalist for the Collegiate Pitcher of the Year Award.
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Lowder finished his sophomore season with a 11-3 record in 99.1 innings, becoming just the fifth pitcher in program history and the first since 2002 to reach 11 victories in a season. Over the course of his career, Lowder has won 15 games and sits just seven victories away from entering the top 10 in Wake Forest history for career wins.
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Additionally, Lowder struck out a career-high 105 batters a year ago, the 10th most in program history. The Albemarle, N.C. native is 52 Ks away from entering the top 10 in Demon Deacon history.
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Lowder ended the regular season as the only pitcher in the ACC to rank in the top three in wins, strikeouts, ERA and innings pitched while also ranking in the top 10 in WHIP (fourth), walks allowed per nine innings (seventh) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (seventh) heading into the NCAA Tournament.
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In conference play, Lowder registered the lowest ERA (2.60) and the most innings (65.2) in addition to the second-most victories (six).
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In Wake Forest's final regular season series, Lowder threw the first complete game by a Demon Deacon since 2017 on just 87 pitches, striking out six batters while allowing just five hits and no walks against NC State (May 19).
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On May 7, 2022, Lowder reached 150 career strikeouts with his first punch out of his start against Louisville (May 7).
Lowder's 2022 Season Breakdown
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Entered the NCAA Tournament as one of four pitchers in the nation with 11 wins, which was also an ACC best.
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Went at least six innings in 11 of his 16 starts
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Allowed three earned runs or less in 15 of his 16 starts
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Walked two batters or less in 13 appearances
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Fanned double-digit batters in three games, matching his career-high of 11 strikeouts against NJIT (Feb. 25), Clemson (April 15) and Louisville (May 6)
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Started the season a perfect 5-0, highlighted by conference wins in the series openers against nationally-ranked Florida State (March 11) and nationally-ranked Georgia Tech (March 18)
Lowder's 2022 Full Season Rankings
| Category | National | ACC |
| Victories | 2 | 1 |
| Complete Games | 65 | 1 |
| ERA | 77 | 3 |
| Games Started | 26 | 4 |
| Strikeouts | 43 | 4 |
| WHIP | 114 | 5 |
| K-BB ratio | 106 | 9 |
Wilken Eyes Monster Junior Season; Looks to Climb Charts
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After posting one of the best offensive seasons by a Wake Forest freshman in 2021, Brock Wilken set career highs in hits (69), home runs (23), RBIs (77) and doubles (13) a season ago.
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Wilken heads into his junior year with the most home runs by a Demon Deacon in their first two seasons ever, sitting ninth overall in program history for career HRs. Wilken enters 2023 19 home runs away from setting the Wake Forest home run record and needs 80 base knocks to join the 200-hit club.
Wake Forest Career Home Runs
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1. Jamie D'Antona (2001-03) 58
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2. Jake Austin (1989-92) 55
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3. Allan Dykstra (2006-08) 49
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4. Chris Kowilcik (1989-92) 47
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Kevin Bunn (1981-84) 47
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Brick Smith (1978-81) 47
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7. Bill Merrifield (1981-83) 45
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8. Dave Lardieri (1994-97) 42
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9. Brock Wilken (2021-Pres.) 40
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B.Tinsman 2019-22 40
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C. Lopez 2009-12 40
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His 23 home runs in 2022 rank second by a Demon Deacon in a single season and his 77 RBIs tied for the seventh-most in a single campaign.
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Wilken registered his 100th career hit in just his 91st career game against Longwood on April 30, 2022.
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The Valrico, Fla. native notched 22 multi-hit games while posting 18 multi-RBI games last season. Additionally, Wilken drove in five or more runs in four games, highlighted by a career day against Louisville with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Nicky Nukes
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Nick Kurtz also returned for year two at Wake Forest following a historic freshman season in 2021 as the Lancaster, Pa. native was named a Freshman All-American by D1Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America, the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball while also garnering Third Team All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman Team honors.
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Kurtz posted one of the best freshman seasons in program history:
Kurtz-Wake Forest Freshman Record Rankings
| Category | Number | Rank |
| Runs Scored | 65 | T-1st |
| Home Runs | 15 | T-2nd |
| Walks | 48 | 2nd |
| RBIs | 56 | T-2nd |
| Hits | 69 | 5th |
| Doubles | 14 | T-9th |
Overall, Kurtz finished second on the Deacs with 48 walks, a .637 slugging percentage and a .471 on-base percentage while also finishing third in home runs and fourth with a .338 batting average and 130 bases.
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Much like teammate Tommy Hawke, Kurtz dominated against conference opponents, leading the ACC with a .422 batting average and .548 on-base percentage in conference play. Additionally, the first baseman also posted the second-highest OPS (1.254) and fifth-highest slugging percentage (.706) against ACC foes.
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Kurtz registered a historic day at the plate in Wake Forest's 27-7 victory against Georgia Tech, becoming the first Wake Forest batter since 2005 to record six hits in a game. This sits as the second most hits in program history and the most by a Wake Forest freshman ever. Kurtz also posted a career-high six RBIs in the 20-run win as well.
Teddy Time
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After exploding in year two in the Old Gold and Black, Teddy McGraw is primed for a huge junior season.
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In 2022, McGraw made 15 appearances, including 12 starts in weekend rotation. The Oneonta, N.Y. native earned a career-high five wins with a career-highs in innings (70.2) and strikeouts (67), while walking just 38 batters.
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McGraw finished the 2022 season second in the ACC in hits allowed per nine innings. Additionally, McGraw held opponents to a batting average of .203, the lowest on the squad.
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McGraw shoved at the end of the regular season, allowing just one run or less in six-straight appearances.
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The junior posted the best start of his career in the regular season finale at NC State (May 21), allowing one hit and three walks over a career-long 7.1 scoreless innings to clinch Wake Forest's first series sweep in Raleigh.
2023 Schedule
Wake Forest opens the 2023 campaign with 12 of its first 13 games inside David F. Couch Ballpark, highlighted by opening weekend against Youngstown State and Illinois on Feb. 17-19 .
After traveling to UNC Greensboro on Tuesday, Feb. 21 for its first road game, the Deacs will host eight-straight at The Couch versus Binghamton, Mount St. Mary's, Towson, UNC Wilmington, Purdue Fort Wayne, Ball State and Cornell.
Home ACC play opens on March 17-19 as the Demon Deacons welcome the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to Winston-Salem. Wake Forest will also host Miami (March 24-26), NC State (April 7-9) and Boston College (May 5-7) before finishing off the regular season with a weekend series against Virginia Tech (May 18-20).
The Deacs will hit the road for their first league series against Duke (March 10-12) and will make trips to Clemson (March 31-April 2), Louisville (April 14-16), Pitt (April 21-23) and Florida State (May 12-14) in ACC competition.
In non-conference action, Wake Forest will play a home-and-home with UNC Wilmington, Coastal Carolina, Elon, High Point, App State, Liberty, UNC Greensboro and App State.
The ACC Baseball Championship is set to return to Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham on May 23-28. For more information, please visit here.
The complete 2023 baseball schedule can be found here.
2023 Season and Single Game Tickets Now On Sale!
Deacon Nation and college baseball fans across the state of North Carolina will have the opportunity to select from various season and single-game ticketing packages that include general admission options, reserved chairback seating, as well as multiple premium ticket options to catch all 33 home contests inside David F. Couch Ballpark.
Fans can purchase their ticket packages by visiting GoDeacs.com/tickets.
With tickets selling at a record pace, don't miss your opportunity to secure your spot at The Couch for the upcoming season!
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