Friday, February 17
Winston-Salem, N.C.
4:00 p.m.

Wake Forest University

vs

Youngstown State

Game Coverage:
TV Network Live Stats
Helmet Hugs

No. 5 Wake Forest Opens 2023 Season with Four Home Games Against Youngstown State and Illinois

2/16/2023 12:00:00 PM | Baseball

The No. 5 Demon Deacons welcome a pair of non-conference opponents to The Couch to begin the new campaign.

By: Ryan Sosic

Stream (Friday) | Stream (Saturday) | Stream (Sunday, Game Two) | Live Stats (Friday) | Live Stats (Saturday) | Live Stats (Sunday) | Live Stats (Sunday, Game Two)
 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 5 Wake Forest baseball team welcomes non-conference opponents Youngstown State and Illinois for four games inside David F. Couch Ballpark to open the 2023 baseball campaign. 

The Deacs, the only consensus preseason top-10 team in the ACC, open the new year on Friday, Feb. 17 against Youngstown State at 4 p.m. before returning to the diamond against Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. 

The Deacs will then face both teams in a Sunday doubleheader on Feb. 19 to close out opening weekend. 

First pitch on Sunday is slated for 8:30 a.m. against the Penguins. The second game of the twin bill against the Fighting Illini is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start. 

Friday's season opener, Saturday's matchup against the Fighting Illini and the second game of Sunday's doubleheader can be streamed on ACC Network Extra. Additionally, fans can tune into an audio streaming broadcast through the Wake Forest Athletics app for the first three games of opening weekend. 

Stay tuned to the Demon Deacons social media accounts (@WakeBaseball) for all in-game updates and information. 

Tickets/Fan Information

  • Deacon Nation and college baseball fans across the state of North Carolina will have the opportunity to select from various season-ticket packages that include general admission options, reserved chairback seating, as well as multiple premium season ticket options to catch all 33 home contests inside David F. Couch Ballpark. Click here for all the exciting season ticket opportunities. 

  • Single-game offerings include general admission, reserved chairback, premium reserve chairback premium high tops and premium third base loge box ticketing options. Click here for all the exciting single-game ticket opportunities. 

  • Currently, there is no tailgating prior to Wake Forest baseball games in the upper lot of David F. Couch Ballpark. Fans who wish to tailgate are asked to use the McCreary Lot behind the Truist Field video board. 

Promotions

  • Friday, Feb. 17th

    • 300 Jersey Koozies

    • Schedule Posters 

    • Schedule Cards

  • Saturday, Feb. 18th

    • Post-Game Fireworks

  • Sunday, Feb. 19th

    • Kids Run the Bases

Opponent/Series History                                                                                                                      

  • The 2023 season opener marks the third matchup ever between Wake Forest and Youngstown State. Wake Forest won both matchups in 2013. 

  • The Demon Deacons have split its four games against Illinois. This marks the third season in head coach Tom Walter's tenure Wake Forest has faced off against the Big Ten foe. 

2022 Season Recap

  • The Demon Deacons posted one of the greatest seasons in program history in 2022, earning 41 victories, the fifth most in program history, and increasing its win total by 21 games (41 wins to 20 wins), the largest year-to-year turnaround in program history.

  • Wake Forest was selected to the 2022 NCAA Baseball Tournament, the program's 14th appearance in the national playoffs and the third tournament appearance in Walter's tenure, after registering the program's seventh 40-win season. Wake Forest ended the regular season with 39 wins, tying the 1999 Demon Deacons for the second-most regular season wins in program history.

  • The 2022 Deacs combined for one of the best offensive seasons in program history and Division I baseball. Wake Forest set program records in home runs (122), walks (364), RBIs (535), runs scored (561), runs per game (9.1), slugging percentage (.548), 20-run games (four), 20-run games in ACC play (two), runs in ACC game (27) and hits in an ACC game (28) while ranking in the top-10 nationally in every offensive category and leading the conference in walks, hits, home runs and runs. 

Fast Starts

  • Wake Forest has won eight-straight season openers dating back to 2015.

  • Last season's dominant 25-3 victory against Lafayette marked Wake Forest's largest margin of victory in a season opener since 2003.

    • Highest Scoring Season Openers:
      1. 1890 - 35
      2. 1951- 29
      3. 2003- 26
      4. 2022- 25
          1916- 25
      6. 1919- 24
      7. 1913- 23
      8. 1948- 21
      9. 1994- 19
          1955- 19
          1904- 19
          1918- 19

  • Last season, the Deacs got off to one of the best starts in program history with an 11-0 record in 2022, the first time since 1961 Wake Forest has won their first 11 games. 

  • Wake Forest was one of five unbeaten teams in Division I prior to its first loss of the season on March 8, 2022 . 

    • Best Starts in Program History:
      - 11-0: 2022, 1961, 1949
      - 12-0: 1949
      - 13-0: 1949
      - 14-0: 1949
      - 15-0: 1949

  • Wake Forest's 11-straight wins marked the longest winning streak overall since the Deacs won 15 in a row during the 2012 season. 

Deacs in the Polls

  • No. 5 - Perfect Game

  • No. 6 - D1Baseball

  • No. 8 - NCBWA

  • No. 9 - Baseball America

  • No. 10 - Collegiate Baseball

  • No. 10 - USA Today's Coaches Poll

Wake Forest Preseason Honors

  • Nick Kurtz

    • Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

    • D1Baseball First Team Preseason All-America

    • Perfect Game Second Team Preseason All-America

    • Baseball America Third Team Preseason All-America

    • Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC

  • Rhett Lowder

    • Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

    • Collegiate Baseball First Team Preseason All-America 

    • D1Baseball First Team Preseason All-America

    • NCBWA First Team Preseason All-America

    • Perfect Game First Team Preseason All-America

    • Baseball America First Team Preseason All-America

    • D1Baseball Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year

    • Perfect Game Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year

    • Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC

  • Teddy McGraw

    • Perfect Game Third Team Preseason All-America

    • Prospects Live Third Team Preseason All-America

    • Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC

  • Camden Minacci

    • D1Baseball Third Team Preseason All-America

    • Perfect Game Third Team Preseason All-America

  • Brock Wilken

    • Collegiate Baseball Second Team Preseason All-America

    • NCBWA Second Team Preseason All-America

    • Perfect Game Second Team Preseason All-America

    • Prospects Live Second Team Preseason All-America

    • Baseball America Third Team Preseason All-America

    • Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC

Production Returning in All Facets

  • The Deacs' 2023 roster is highlighted by multiple returners from last year's team. in the field and on the mound. In almost every category, Wake Forest will return well over half of its production from last season:
     
    - At-Bats: 75.2 percent
    - Base Hits- 74.8%
    - RBIs- 71.8%
    - Home Runs: 67.2%
    - Innings: 80.6%
    - Strikeouts: 80.8%

  • Additionally, this year's position players returning made 472 starts last season, led by Brock Wilken (third base) and Jake Reinisch (designated hitter) with 60 starts apiece. 

Deacon Duo Leads Collegiate National Team

  • Junior right handers Rhett Lowder and Teddy McGraw played for Team USA's Collegiate National Team this summer at the Honkbalweek Haarlem in the Netherlands as the Deacon duo claimed a bronze medal.

  • Lowder and McGraw joined Johnny Aiello (2017), Kyle Sleeth (2002), Bret Wagner (1993), Jake Austin (1989) and Erik Hansen (1985) as Wake Forest representatives on the national team. Additionally, Wake Forest was one of five schools in the nation with multiple players on the 2022 national squad (Florida State, LSU, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt).

  • McGraw tossed three scoreless innings with four strikeouts and one hit allowed to pick up a save in Team USA's 2-0 shutout victory over Cuba. 

  • Lowder started against Japan and Curacao, throwing 6.1 innings (second-most on team) to go along with five strikeouts. 

  • In Team USA's first game of the tournament, Lowder fired three shutout innings with a team-high four strikeouts. Against Curacao, the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year worked 3.1 strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk.

Reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder

  • 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 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. 

  • 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.

  • Additionally, Lowder struck out a career-high 105 batters, the 10th most in program history. The Albemarle, N.C. native is 52 Ks away from entering the top 10 in Demon Deacon history. 

  • 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.

  • In conference play, Lowder registered the lowest ERA (2.60) and the most innings (65.2) in addition to the second-most victories (six). 

  • 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)

  • 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

  • Entered the NCAA Tournament as one of four pitchers in the nation with 11 wins, which was also an ACC best.

  • Went at least six innings in 11 of his 16 starts

  • Allowed three earned runs or less in 15 of his 16 starts

  • Walked two batters or less in 13 appearances

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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. 

  • Wilken heads into his junior season 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

  • 1. Jamie D'Antona (2001-03) 58

  • 2. Jake Austin (1989-92) 55

  • 3. Allan Dykstra (2006-08) 49

  • 4. Chris Kowilcik (1989-92) 47

  •     Kevin Bunn (1981-84) 47

  •     Brick Smith (1978-81) 47

  • 7. Bill Merrifield (1981-83) 45

  • 8. Dave Lardieri (1994-97) 42

  • 9. Brock Wilken  (2021-Pres.) 40

  •     B.Tinsman 2019-22 40

  •    C. Lopez 2009-12 40

  • 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.

  • Wilken registered his 100th career hit in just his 91st career game against Longwood on April 30, 2022

  • 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.

Teddy Time

  • After exploding in year two in the Old Gold and Black, Teddy McGraw is primed for a huge junior season. 

  • 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. 

  • 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. 

  • McGraw shoved at the end of the regular season, allowing just one run or less in six-straight appearances. 

  • 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.

Hartle Returns After Impactful Freshman Season

  • Josh Hartle became just the second pitcher in Wake Forest history to make 14 starts as a freshman as well as the sixth Deac in program history to earn seven victories of the season (second most on the 2022 squad). 

  • The King, N.C. native tossed 69.2 innings with 54 strikeouts compared to 24 walks, the lowest among the weekend rotation. Additionally, Hartle conceded just one earned run in five starts. 

  • Hartle ended his freshman season in the NCAA Tournament against LIU, fanning five in seven innings while allowing just one run and three hits. 

  • Hartle came to Winston-Salem as one of the highest-regarded arms in the entire 2021 draft as the left hander was the top-rated recruit to attend college from last year's class. 

  • Hartle was ranked the No. 2 impact freshman in the ACC by D1Baseball and 2024 ACC draft prospects by Perfect Game during last season.  

Nicky Nukes

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Certified Stopper Camden Minacci

  • A staple out of Wake Forest's bullpen the last two seasons, Camden Minacci returns for his third year in 2023 after becoming one of 18 pitchers in the nation to land on the Midseason and Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch Lists. 

  • Overall, the Tampa, Fla. native made 30 appearances out of the bullpen, which was tied for the most on squad, and tossed a career-high 45.1 innings with a career-high 59 strikeouts, good for third on the team, and an ERA of 2.18, the lowest on the Demon Deacons. 

  • Additionally, Minacci posted a 11.85 K/9, the ninth-highest mark in program history.

  • Minacci earned two wins (NJIT and Clemson) and registered a career-high six saves, the sixth-most saves in the conference. With that, Minacci is two saves away from cracking the top-10 in career saves by a Demon Deacon:

  • Most Saves by a Demon Deacon

    • 1. Dave Bush (1999-02) 38

    • 2. Michael Dimock (2009-12) 19

    • 3. Keith Ksansnak (1983-86) 17

    • 4. Ben Hunter (2006-08) 16

    •      Bret Wagner (1992-94) 16

    •      Buddy Jenkins (1987-91) 16

    • 7. Frank Humber (1986-89) 15

    • 8. Chuck Irving (1976-77) 12

    •     Aaron Fossas (2012-16) 12

    • 10. Will Craig (2014-16) 10

    • -- Camden Minacci (2021-pres.) 8

  • Minacci was instrumental last season in a series-opening victory at Georgia Tech on March 18, posting a career-high tying five strikeouts in a then-career-high 3.2 innings.

  • Minacci threw a career-long 4.1 innings on a career-high 71 pitches in a tie against Louisville (May 8).

Hawke 'Em

  • Tommy Hawke returns for his second collegiate season after finishing with the fourth-highest batting average by a freshman in program history (.380) and the fourth-most hits by a Wake Forest freshman ever (71). In addition to his team-best average, Hawke led the team in on-base percentage (.502) and stolen bases (eight). 

  • Hawke excelled against conference opponents, ending the regular season with the second-highest batting average (.406) and on-base percentage (.525) in the ACC during conference play. 

  • The Oak Island, N.C. native reached safely in 51 of 57 games he appeared in last season and posted 20 multi-hit and 11 multi-walk games. 

  • Hawke was recognized as a Freshman All-American by Baseball America and landed on the ACC's All-Freshman Team. 

Reinisch Reaching Base

  • Jake Reinisch led the Demon Deacons with 55 walks (tied for fifth-most in program history) as the junior went on a career and team-high 45 game reached base streak to start off the 2022 season. Overall, Reinisch reached base safely in 58 of 60 games he appeared in. 

  • The Clifton, Park, N.Y. native also set career highs in average (.318), hits (64), home runs (8), RBIs (50), slugging (.517) and on-base (.467). 

Up Next
Wake Forest will travel to UNC Greensboro for its first road game of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. 

The non-conference contest can be streamed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription. 

Follow The Deacs:

GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |

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Youngstown State
W, 9-3

Feb 17 (Fri)

4:00 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

23

Josh Hartle

LHP
/ Baseball
24

Tommy Hawke

OF/INF
/ Baseball
8

Nick Kurtz

OF/INF
/ Baseball
4

Rhett Lowder

RHP
/ Baseball
42

Teddy McGraw

RHP
/ Baseball
10

Camden Minacci

RHP
/ Baseball
41

Jake Reinisch

INF/OF
/ Baseball
25

Brock Wilken

INF/C
/ Baseball

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