Wake Forest University
10-0
UNC Wilmington
4-4
No. 2 Wake Forest Downs UNC Wilmington; Moves to 10-0
2/28/2023 9:04:00 PM | Baseball
Behind an offensive outburst in the first inning and timely pitching, the No. 2 Demon Deacons became the sixth team in program history to win its first 10 games to open a season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind an offensive outburst in the first inning and timely pitching, the No. 2 Wake Forest baseball team defeated UNC Wilmington, 8-6, on Tuesday evening at David F. Couch Ballpark to remain perfect on the season.
With its second midweek victory of 2023, the Deacs moved to 10-0 for the second-straight year. The 2022 and 2023 Deacs are the only teams since 2000 and just the sixth team in program history to win its first 10 games. Additionally, this is the first time in program history that teams have started 10-0 or better in back-to-back seasons.
Additionally, Wake Forest is 35-4 against non-ACC competition over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents 391-135 in those games.
The Deacs continued to use all-around team performances to fuel its perfect start, outscoring opponents 130-20 to open the new campaign. Wake Forest is batting .366 as a team and holds a team ERA of just 1.74 with 138 strikeouts and 21 walks in 10 games.
Coming into midweek competition, the Demon Deacon pitching staff led the nation in WHIP and the ACC in ERA, hits-per-nine, strikeout-walk ratio and strikeouts-per-nine.
Overall, Wake Forest has fanned double-digit batters in eight games and averaged 13.8 strikeouts per game this season while walking just 2.1 batters per game.
Wake Forest's offense has been on a tear as the Deacs led the nation in walks, hits, on-base percentage and runs through the opening nine games of the year. Additionally, Wake Forest led the ACC in home runs and slugging percentage.
The Demon Deacons jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage, highlighted by an RBI-single from Brock Wilken, a bases-loaded two-RBI double by Bennett Lee and a two-RBI base hit courtesy of Marek Houston.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Wilken added to the lead (6-0) with a solo home run to left field, increasing his season HR total to seven.
UNC Wilmington cut the deficit to 6-5 after a five-run inning of their own in the top of the fifth.
Undaunted, Michael Massey, Joe Ariola, and William Ray used timely pitching to maintain a one-run lead in the middle innings before turning the ball over to Camden Minacci.
After a three-up, three-down inning from the Demon Deacon closer in the eighth, Wake Forest added two insurance runs in the form of a Hawke RBI-double and wild pitch.
Minacci completed the six-out save in the top of the ninth, striking out three Seahawk batters in the final frame to clinch the victory.
Reed Mascolo earned his second win of the 2023 season as he pitched 4.2 innings and punched out three. The redshirt junior retired 10-straight batters, highlighted by back-to-back three-up, three-down innings in the third and fourth.
How It Happened
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Reed Mascolo tossed a hitless top of the first with a groundout, popup and base-running interference call on a high pop up in foul territory behind home plate.
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UNC Wilmington put a base runner in scoring position following a one-out walk and wild pitch. Mascolo retired the next two batters to end the frame.
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Wake Forest jumped out to a five-run lead (5-0) after four hits and three walks in the bottom of the first, batting around to open its day at the plate.
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Tommy Hawke led off the game with a walk before advancing to second on a passed ball. Pierce Bennett singled to left before Brock Wilken fired an RBI-single to right, scoring Hawke from third.
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With two outs, Jake Reinisch walked to load the bases before Bennett Lee roped a two-RBI double to left field, increasing Wake Forest's lead to 3-0.
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Danny Corona reached base on a four-pitch walk. Marek Houston continued the two-out rally with a base hit to right field, scoring Reinisch and Lee to cap off the big inning.
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UNC Wilmington recorded its first base hit to lead off the inning. Undaunted, Mascolo retired the next three Seahawks, highlighted by his first strikeout, to toss another scoreless frame.
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Back-to-back singles from Nick Kurtz and Wilken with one out placed runners on base for the Deacs, but a double play ended the frame and kept Wake Forest's lead at five (5-0).
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Mascolo found his groove, tossing a 1-2-3 inning with two groundouts and another inning-ending strikeout in the third.
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The Deacs once again placed a pair on base in the bottom half as Reinisch walked and Lee doubled with no one out. UNC Wilmington retired the next three batters to end the scoring threat as Wake Forest took its 5-0 lead into the fourth.
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Mascolo continued to deal in the next half, retiring the Seahawks in order for the second-straight inning.
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After inducing a flyout to open the inning, Mascolo fanned his third batter of the game for the second out before a groundout ended the top of the frame.
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A Wilken solo home run to left field increased Wake Forest's lead to 6-0 after four innings.
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This marked the Valrico, Fla native's seventh of the season and the 47th home run of his career, moving him into a tie for fourth all-time in Wake Forest history.
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Additionally, Wilken's 47 career home runs are the most by any active player in Division I baseball.
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UNC Wilmington added five runs in the top of the fifth to trim Wake Forest's lead to 6-5.
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Bennett made a diving play in right center field to end the frame and strand a pair of Seahawks.
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After the Deacs were kept off the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame, Michael Massey struckout the side to keep Wake Forest in the lead (6-5).
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Hawke led off the bottom of the sixth with a single on a grounder to second base. A 6-4-3 double play and deep fly out on the warning track ended the inning as Wake Forest continued to lead 6-5.
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Joe Ariola induced the opening two outs to open the seventh with a pair of groundouts. With a runner on second thanks to a one-out double, Will Ray took over on the mound with a 1-1 count and threw consecutive strikes to end the frame and strand the Seahawk in scoring position.
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Adam Cecere notched a one-out walk in the bottom of the inning, but a strikeout and popup stranded the redshirt junior as Wake Forest continued to lead 6-5.
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Camden Minacci tossed a perfect three-up, three-down eighth, highlighted by back-to-back strikeouts as Wake Forest held onto its one-run advantage (6-5).
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The Deacs increased its lead to 8-5 with a Tommy Hawke RBI-double before the sophomore later scored on a wild pitch.
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Minacci struckout the first two batters in the top of the ninth and fanned the final hitter of the contest after a UNCW solo home run to clinch Wake Forest's 8-6 win.
Words From Walter
"Great team win. I was pleased with our bullpen. Reed Mascolo gave us a good start there. In that fifth inning we just couldn't get off the field with two outs. We had two outs and two strikes on five-straight hitters and just couldn't find a way to make a pitch. But I was really happy with Massey in the sixth. He had a good bounce back inning, striking out the side. Joe Ariola got us two huge outs out of the bullpen and then Will Ray comes in and strikes a guy out in a huge situation. He really fired me up. And then Cam Minacci coming in and getting the last six outs, really good."
"Offensively, we did not have a great day. I didn't feel like we took advantage of some of the opportunities we were given. Wilmington has a good pitching staff. They ran a bunch of good arms at us. It is tough when you are seeing six, seven guys like that. It makes it tough. But we battled and it was good to be in a close game and find a way to win. I'm proud of our club and we will have a good practice tomorrow and come out ready on Friday."
Standout Stat
With its second midweek victory of 2023, the Deacs moved to 10-0 for the second-straight season. The 2022 and 2023 Deacs are the only teams since 2000 and just the sixth team in program history to win its first 10 games. Additionally, this is the first time in program history that teams have started 10-0 or better in back-to-back seasons.
Best Starts in Program History:
- 10-0: 2023, 2022, 1964, 1961, 1949, 1913
- 11-0: 2022, 1961, 1949
- 12-0: 1949
- 13-0: 1949
- 14-0: 1949
- 15-0: 1949
Currently, Wake Forest is the only team in the nation to have already reached double-digit victories this season.
Additionally, Wake Forest is 35-4 against non-ACC competition over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents 391-135 in those games.
In The Spotlight
Reed Mascolo has made impactful starts during midweek competition over his three seasons in a Demon Deacon uniform, amassing a 13-2 record in games he has started. The redshirt junior has given up less than two earned runs in 10 of those matchups and has struckout at least three batters in 10 outings.
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 this season.
With his solo home run on Tuesday, Wilken has launched a long fly in five of Wake Forest's last six games. After hitting the most home runs by a Demon Deacon in their first two seasons ever, Wilken has hit 47 home runs in his career, which is tied for the fourth most by a Demon Deacon ever and the most among active players in the nation:
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. Brock Wilken 2021-Pres. 47
Chris Kowilcik 1989-92 47
Kevin Bunn 1981-84 47
Brick Smith 1978-81 47
8. Bill Merrifield 1981-83 45
9. Dave Lardieri 1994-97 42
After leading the team with the fourth-highest batting average by a freshman in program history (.380) last year, Tommy Hawke has continued to be impactful at the top of Wake Forest's lineup. Through 10 games, Hawke leads the Deacs with a .525 batting average with a team-best 21 hits.
Dating back to last season, Hawke has a 40-game reached base streak and eight-game hit streak after going 2-for-4 with one walk today against the Seahawks.
A staple out of Wake Forest's bullpen the last two seasons, Camden Minacci earned the first save of his junior season after inducing the final six outs of the ballgame, highlighted by five strikeouts.
Over the course of his career, Minacci has registered nine saves as the Tampa, Fla. native is just one save away from entering the top 10 for 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. 9
On Deck
The Deacs conclude its eight-game home stand on March 3-5 against Purdue Fort Wayne, Ball State and Cornell.
Wake Forest faces Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m. before hitting the diamond on Saturday, March 4 against Ball State at noon.
The Deacs will wrap up the weekend against Cornell on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m.
All three games can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
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.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mascolo, Reed (2-0)
L: Connor Kane (0-1)
S: Minacci, Camden (1)
Batting:
2B: Dillon Lifrieri 1 ; John Newton 1
HR: Brock Wills 1 ; Trevor Marsh 1
RBI: Brock Wills 2 ; Tanner Thach 1 ; Alec DeMartino 1 ; Jac Croom 1 ; Trevor Marsh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brock Wills 2 ; Dillon Lifrieri 1 ; Tanner Thach 1 ; Trevor Marsh 1 ; John Newton 1
Batting:
2B: Hawke, Tommy 1 ; Lee, Bennett 2
HR: Wilken, Brock 1
RBI: Hawke, Tommy 1 ; Wilken, Brock 2 ; Lee, Bennett 2 ; Houston, Marek 2
SH: Houston, Marek 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawke, Tommy 2 ; Bennett, Pierce 1 ; Wilken, Brock 2 ; Reinisch, Jake 1 ; Lee, Bennett 1 ; Johnson, Justin 1
