Friday, February 24
Winston-Salem, N.C.
2:00 p.m.

Wake Forest University

vs

Mount St. Mary's

Baseball team

No. 4 Demon Deacons Open Eight-Game Home Stand Against Mount St. Mary’s, Binghamton and Towson

2/23/2023 3:51:00 PM | Baseball

Over the last two seasons, Wake Forest is 30-4 against non-ACC competition. The Deacs have outscored opponents 326-125 in those games.

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

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. –  Off to the program's third 5-0 start since 2009, the No. 4 Wake Forest baseball team returns to The Couch for its second four-game weekend against Mount St. Mary's, Binghamton and Towson on Feb. 24-26. 

The Deacs open the weekend with a Friday doubleheader against Mount St. Mary's at 2 p.m. and close out the twin bill against Binghamton at 6 p.m. 

Wake Forest will take on Towson at 4 p.m. on Saturday before the Deacs will cap off the second weekend of the year with another matchup against Mount St. Mary's on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Both games on Friday and Sunday's contest against the Mountaineers 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 the 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. 24th

    • Stress Ball Giveaway

      • First 200 fans

      • Second game only

  • Saturday, Feb. 25th

    • Wake Forest baseball bracelet 

      • First 200 fans

  • Sunday, Feb. 26th

    • Kids Run the Bases

Opponent and Series History                                                                                                                
The first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Mountaineers marks just the second meeting between Wake Forest and Mount St. Mary's. In the first ever meeting between the two programs in 2016, the Deacs posted a 8-2 victory. 

The Deacs and Bearcats will hit the diamond to close out the doubleheader for the first time ever. 

Wake Forest holds a 10-4 record against Towson, highlighted by a three-game win streak against the Tigers. 

Deacs in the Polls

  • No. 4- Perfect Game

  • No. 6- D1Baseball

  • No. 6- Collegiate Baseball

  • No. 6- NCBWA

  • No. 8- Baseball America

  • No. 10- USA Today Coaches Poll

Wake Forest Preseason Honors

  • Nick Kurtz

    • ACC Player of the Week (Feb. 20)

    • D1 Baseball Player of the Week (Feb. 20)

    • Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (Feb. 20)

    • 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

  • Sean Sullivan

    • ACC Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 20)

    • Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (Feb. 20)

  • 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

Fast Starts

  • Wake Forest has started 5-0 for the second-straight year and the third time since 2009 after its 20-2 victory at UNC Greensboro on Tuesday afternoon. 

  • Currently, Wake Forest is just one of three power five schools to have won five games already in 2023 (South Carolina and Alabama). 

  • Overall, Wake Forest has plated 65 runs (13 runs per game) with a team batting average of .345, 16 home runs and 44 walks in its first five contests. 

  • The Deacs have only conceded 10 runs (two runs per game), the fewest number of runs the Deacs have allowed in the first five games in head coach Tom Walter's tenure. Wake Forest has struck out 68 batters, while only conceding 11 walks. 

  • Friday's 9-3 win against Youngstown State marked Wake Forest's ninth-straight victory in season openers dating back to 2015.

  • 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:

      • 9-0: 2022, 1964, 1961, 1949

      • 10-0: 2022, 1964, 1961, 1949

      • 11-0: 2022, 1961, 1949

      • 12-0: 1949

      • 13-0: 1949

      • 14-0: 1949

      • 15-0: 1949

  • Wake Forest's 11-straight wins to open 2022 marked the longest winning streak overall since the Deacs won 15 in a row during the 2012 season. 

  • Over the last two seasons, Wake Forest is 30-4 against non-ACC competition. The Deacs have outscored opponents 326-125 in those games. 

Pitching and Defense Thriving Early

  • Wake Forest's pitching staff  has impressed in its first five games as 14 arms hit the mound throughout Opening Weekend. 

  • In addition to being the lowest number of runs conceded through the first five games of Coach Walter's Wake Forest tenure, the Demon Deacon pitching staff leads the ACC and ranks in the top-12 nationally in all pitching categories:

    • Category                     National     ACC     

    • K Per Nine (14.2).           3                1 

    • K-BB Ratio (6.18)            4                1

    • WHIP (0.84)                     6                1

    • ERA (1.67)                      12                1

    • Hits Per Nine (5.23)        10                1

  • In Wake Forest's 43 innings, the team has struck out 68 batters, 20 of which came on Saturday night when Rhett Lowder and Sean Sullivan fanned 20 Illinois batters. 

  • Defensively, the Deacs have committed just one error (catcher's interference) as their .994 fielding percentage ranks second in the ACC.

Bats Explode to Open Season 

  • Wake Forest's bats came alive against Illinois, Youngstown State and UNC Greensboro, combining batting .345 with 60 hits, 16 home runs, 62 RBIs as well as a slugging percentage of .672 and on-base percentage of .487. 

  • Through the first five games, the Demon Deacons have one of the most prolific offenses in the nation:

    • Category                 National              ACC     

    • HR (16)                        2                        1

    • Walks (44)                    3                        1

    • Slugging % (.672)         5                        2

    • Hits (60)                        6                        2

    • On-Base % (.487)         9                        2

    • Average (.345)             17                       5

  • Overall, six Deacs have launched a long fly, headlined by Adam Cecere with five, which is tied for first in the nation, Nick Kurtz with four and Brock Wilken with three. Wilken has launched a home run in three of Wake Forest's last four games. 

  • Tommy Hawke capped off Wake Forest's eight-run first inning on Tuesday with the Demon Deacons' first inside-the-park home run since 2016.  

  • Wake Forest's comeback victory against Youngstown State was fueled by 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the most runs in an inning since the top of the fifth in last year's 18-5 victory at Georgia Tech on March 19. 

  • Overall, Wake Forest has 14 players sporting an on-base percentage higher than .400 while 12 Deacs have notched at least two hits. 

Deacs Sweep First ACC Weekly Awards

  • Sophomore preseason All-American Nick Kurtz and sophomore left handed pitcher Sean Sullivan swept the first Atlantic Coast Conference Weekly Awards, as announced by the league on Monday afternoon.

  • Kurtz led Wake Forest at the plate in its perfect 4-0 weekend with a team-high tying .500 batting average to go along with a team-high tying six hits, team-high tying four home runs, team-best 10 RBIs and team-best eight runs scored. 

  • Additionally, Kurtz led the team with a 1.500 slugging percentage, seven walks and .684 on-base percentage.

  • Sullivan impressed in his Demon Deacon debut in Wake Forest's 8-1 victory against Illinois on Saturday as the Andover, Mass. native struck out 10 batters while allowing just two hits and one walk in four scoreless innings to earn the save.

  • Sullivan tallied at least two strikeouts in all four innings, highlighted by his trio of punchouts in the seventh and ninth. Additionally, Sullivan didn't allow more than one base runner in all four relief frames. 

Historic 2022 Season

  • The Deacs posted one of the greatest seasons in program history in 2022, finishing the campaign with 41 victories, the fifth most in program history. 

  • The 2022 Deacs were the first squad since 2017 to reach 40 wins and posted Wake Forest's seventh 40-win season in program history. 

  • The Deacs increased its win total by 21 games from last season (41 wins to 20 wins), the largest year-to-year turnaround in program history. 

  • Wake Forest ended the regular season with 39 wins, tying the 1999 Demon Deacons for the second-most regular season wins in program history. 

  • Wake Forest ended the regular season tied for the second-most wins in the conference at the end of the regular season, while leading the ACC's Atlantic division. • Wake Forest finished sixth in the RPI, the third lowest in the ACC and its lowest since 1999. 

  • With a midweek win at App State in the final non-conference game of the season, Wake Forest finished the 2022 regular season campaign tied for the highest non-conference winning percentage in the entire nation with a 24-2 record. Additionally, the 24 non-ACC wins are most by a Demon Deacon squad since 2017. 

  • The Deacs won four ACC series, claiming the first two games at Georgia Tech as well as against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. before sweeping Big Four rivals Duke for the first time since 2008 and NC State for the first time ever in Raleigh.  

  • With a 18-3 victory in game one of its doubleheader against Longwood, 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. 

Newcomers Making Immediate Impact

  • A total of 12 newcomers made their Demon Deacon debut during opening weekend. 

  • Sean Sullivan was electric in his first appearance in the Old Gold and Black, fanning 10 batters in four scoreless innings. The transfer from Northwestern tallied at least two strikeouts in all four innings, highlighted by his trio of punchouts in the seventh and ninth. Additionally, Sullivan didn't allow more than one base runner in all four relief frames. 

  • Michael Massey started on the mound on Sunday morning against Youngstown State as the right hander picked up the win after tossing four innings with four strikeouts and three hits allowed. 

  • Cole Roland made two relief appearances over the course of the weekend. In 2.1 innings, Roland didn't allow a hit or run while striking out seven. 

  • Ben Shenosky and Joe Ariola appeared in their first collegiate games against Youngstown State. 

  • Freshman Marek Houston started on Opening Day at shortstop and went 3-for-9 with three RBIs and four walks, which all came in Sunday's 18-3 victory against Youngstown State .

  • Bennett Lee and Justin Johnson also made multiple starts over the weekend at catcher and infield, respectively. Lee  notched a two-RBI single to break a 1-1 tie against Illinois on Saturday and Johnson picked up his first hit as a Demon Deacon versus Youngstown State before launching a solo home run in the final game of the weekend. 

Lowder Day

  • Unanimous Preseason All-American and 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder earned his first win of 2023 after striking out 10 batters in five innings, the fifth double-digit strikeout performance of his career (NJIT-Feb. 25, 2022, Clemson-April 15, 2022, Louisville-May 6, 2022 and Coastal Carolina-Feb. 23, 2021). 

  • After allowing a run in the first, Lowder settled in as the junior fanned seven straight in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Lowder finished his first outing of the new year strong, striking out the side in his final two frames.

  • 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 16 games and sits just six victories away from entering the top 10 in Wake Forest history for career wins.

  • The Albemarle, N.C. native is currently seven strikeouts away from 200 career strikeouts and 42 Ks away from entering the top 10 in Demon Deacon history after striking out a career-high 105 batters in, the 10th most in program 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 1 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


Nicky Nukes

  • After one of the greatest seasons by a Wake Forest freshman in school history, Nick Kurtz impressed throughout the first weekend of the season as the sophomore earned the first ACC Player of the Week honors of his career. 

  • Kurtz led Wake Forest at the plate in its perfect 4-0 weekend with a team-high tying .500 batting average to go along with a team-high tying six hits, team-high tying four home runs, team-best 10 RBIs and team-best eight runs scored. 

  • Additionally, Kurtz led the team with a 1.500 slugging percentage, seven walks and .684 on-base percentage. 

  • In Wake Forest's season opener, Kurtz broke the game open with a grand slam in the second inning before pushing Wake Forest's advantage to 8-0 after another long fly to right field in the bottom of the fourth to tie his career high of two home runs while adding five RBIs total. 

  • In Wake Forest's 8-1 win versus Illinois on Saturday, Kurtz hit another home run while going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and one walk. Kurtz was a catalyst in the Deacs' Sunday Sweep. 

  • In game one against Youngstown State, Kurtz was walked three times and scored one run. In the second game of the twin bill, Kurtz went 2-for-3 with a home run (fourth of the season), three RBIs, two walks and two runs scored.

  • Overall, Kurtz ranks in the top 10 of the ACC in runs scored (first), RBIs (second), home runs (second), walks (third), total bases (third), slugging percentage (fourth) and on-base percentage (eighth).

  • Kurtz's historic freshman season in 2022 included being 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.

  • Kurtz needs just 24 more base knocks to tally 100 career hits. 

Cec Bombs

  • Adam Cecere is off to a hot start at the plate, leading Wake Forest in home runs (five), total bases (22), runs scored (nine) and slugging percentage (1.467). 

  • Cecere's five long flies rank first in the nation as the redshirt junior is one of three players in the nation with five HRs. 

  • Overall, the 2022 team captain has reached safely and scored at least one run in all five games. Cecere heads into the weekend with a two-game streak of multi-hit performances. 

  • Against Illinois on Feb. 19, Cecere launched two home runs to go along with three RBIs, the fourth multi-HR game of his career. 

  • In addition to his nations-best five homers, Cecere leads the ACC in runs scored (nine) and slugging percentage (1.467) while ranking in the top 10 in RBIs and walks.

Wilken Looks to Climb Charts

  • After setting career highs in hits (69). home runs (23), RBIs (77) and doubles (13) in 2022, Brock Wilken looks to cement himself as one of the best hitters in Wake Forest history in 2023.

  • After launching three-run home runs in back-to-back games during opening weekend, Wilken moved into eighth all-time on Wake Forest's career home run list with a solo homer off the scoreboard at UNC Greensboro on Tuesday. Wilken needs just two more long flies to tie Bill Merrifield for seventh on the all-time home run list. 

    • 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. Brock Wilken 2021-Pres. 43

      • 9.  Dave Lardieri 1994-97 42

  • Wilken has been patient at the plate as the junior leads the ACC with eight walks. Wilken has drawn two walks in three of Wake Forest's first five games. 

  • Wilken headed into his junior season with the most home runs by a Demon Deacon in their first two seasons ever and needs 76 more base knocks to join the 200-hit club. 

  • 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

Hawke 'Em

  • After leading the team with the fourth-highest batting average by a freshman in program history (.380) last, Tommy Hawke has continued to be impactful at the top of Wake Forest's lineup. Hawke leads the Deacs with a .471 batting average with a team-best eight hits. 

  • After registering two hits in Wake Forest's Sunday doubleheader, Hawke went a perfect 3-3 with four runs scored, three RBIs and an inside-the-park home run, the first by a Demon Deacon since 2016. 

  • Overall, Hawke has reached base in all five games and has drawn a free pass in four games, highlighted by a career-high tying three walks in Wake Forest's season opener against Youngstown State. 

  • Last season, Hawke finished 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. 

Hartle Continues to Deal in Year Two

  • Josh Hartle earned the first win of his sophomore year in Wake Forest's second game of its opening weekend doubleheader against Illinois. The King, N.C. native struckout a career-high tying eight batters in five innings while allowing just one run. In his last six outings, the lefthander has allowed one run or less five times. 

  • 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. 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. 

Certified Stopper Camden Minacci

  • A staple out of Wake Forest's bullpen the last two seasons, Camden Minacci made his first appearance of his junior season against Illinois last weekend. Minacci tossed a scoreless top of the ninth to secure Wake Forest's fourth win with a pair of strikeouts. 

  • In 2022, 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).

On Deck
Wake Forest continues on its eight-game homestand with a midweek matchup against UNC Wilmington on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. 

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