Friday, March 3
Winston-Salem, N.C.
1:30 p.m.

Wake Forest University

vs

Purdue Fort Wayne

Game Coverage:
Listen Live Stats
Wake Forest Baseball home run celebration

No. 2 Demon Deacons Conclude Home Stand with Trio of Non-Conference Contests

3/2/2023 4:15:00 PM | Baseball

The Deacs are off to the program’s sixth 10-0 start and head into the third weekend of the season as one of two teams in the nation with double-digits victories.

By: Ryan Sosic

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Off to the program's sixth 10-0 start, the No. 2 Wake Forest baseball team concludes 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 1:30 p.m. before returning to the diamond on Saturday, March 4 against Ball State at 5 p.m.. 

The Deacs will wrap up the weekend against Cornell on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday's games will be broadcasted live on ACC Network Extra. Additionally, fans can tune into an audio streaming broadcast through the Wake Forest Athletics app for all three games. 

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

    • Wake Forest baseball bracelets, schedule posters and schedule cards

  • Saturday

    • Military Appreciation Day

      • Camo Stress Ball Giveaway

  • Sunday

    • Kids Run The Bases

Opponent & Series History                                                                                                                     
The Deacs and Mastodons' only previous meeting came in 1979 when Wake Forest defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 8-3.

Wake Forest and Ball State have split its previous four meetings. The Deacs won the first pair of contests in 1993 and 2005, while the Cardinals come to Winston-Salem on a two-game win streak against Wake Forest (2007).

For the first time since 1949, Wake Forest and Cornell will square off on the diamond. The Deacs have won the previous nine matchups, which all came from 1937-1949.

Deacs in the Polls

  • No. 2- Collegiate Baseball

  • No. 3- Perfect Game

  • No. 3- USA Today Coaches Poll

  • No. 5- D1Baseball

  • No. 7- Baseball America

Wake Forest Honors

  • Adam Cecere

    • ACC Player of the Week (Feb. 27)

  • 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 Player of the Week (Feb. 27)

    • Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (Feb. 27)

    • 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

  • With its 8-6 victory on Tuesday against UNC Wilmington, 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.

  • Currently, Wake Forest is the one of two teams in the nation with 10 wins. 

  • Wake Forest has outscored their 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.

  • Feb. 17'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:

      • - 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

  • 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. 

  • Wake Forest is 35-4 against non-ACC competition over the last two seasons, outscoring opponents 391-135 in those games. 

Pitching and Defense Thriving Early

  • Wake Forest's pitching staff  has impressed in its first 10 games as 16 arms hit the mound throughout the opening slate. 

  • The Demon Deacon pitching staff leads the nation in strikeout-walk ratio and the ACC in WHIP, ERA, hits per nine and strikeouts per nine:

    Category (Number) National ACC
    K-BB Ratio (6.57) 1 1
    WHIP (.83) 2 1
    ERA (1.74) 3 1
    Hits Per Nine (5.32) 2 1
    Ks Per Nine (14.1) 2 1
    BB Per Nine (2.15) 4 2

  • Wake Forest has fanned double-digit batters in eight games this season and have held opponents to one run or less in five games. Overall as a staff, the Deacs have averaged 13.9 strikeouts per game this season and have allowed more than one run in just four frames (first, third, fifth and eighth). 

  • Last weekend, Wake Forest starting pitchers combined to throw 25 innings, allowing just one earned run and one walk with 37 strikeouts. 

  • Defensively, the Deacs have committed just three errors (two catcher's interference and one fielding) as their .991 fielding percentage leads the ACC.

  • Three Deacs sit in the top 10 of the ACC in strikeouts:

Rake Forest: The Highest Scoring Offense In The Nation

  • Wake Forest's offense has been on a tear to open the new season as the Deacs lead the nation in walks, hits, on-base percentage, scoring and runs per game. Additionally, Wake Forest leads the ACC in home runs, batting average and slugging percentage.

    Category National ACC
    Walks (85) 1 1
    Hits (132) 1 1
    On-Base % (.499) 1 1
    Scoring (13.0) 1 1
    Runs (130) 1 1
    HR (26) 2 1
    Average (.366) 2 1
    Slugging % (.654) 4 1
    Doubles (26) 6 2

  • Nine Deacs have launched a long fly, headlined by Brock Wilken with seven, which is second in the nation and the most in the ACC , Adam Cecere with six, Nick Kurtz with four and Pierce Bennett, Justin Johnson and Danny Corona with two.

  • Tommy Hawke capped off Wake Forest's eight-run first inning in Wake Forest's first midweek game of the season 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 13 players sporting an on-base percentage higher than .400 while six Deacs have notched at double-digit hits.

  • Wake Forest has reached double-digit hits in eight of its first 10 games while scoring at least 15 runs in five contests.

Deacs Sweep Weekly ACC Awards for Second-Straight Week

  • For the second-straight week to open the 2023 season, Wake Forest baseball swept the Atlantic Coast Conference weekly awards, as announced by the league on Monday afternoon. 

  • Adam Cecere received the first ACC Player of the Week honor of his career, while Sean Sullivan was named the conference's top pitcher for the second-straight week. 

  • Cecere batted .579 over Wake Forest's perfect 5-0 week, recording 11 hits, a team-high 12 RBIs, a team-high tying 11 runs scored, a team-high four doubles, two home runs and four walks. Cecere tallied a team-best 1.105 slugging percentage and .652 on-base percentage.

  • Cecere tallied multi-hits in four of Wake Forest's five games, highlighted by a trio of base knocks in back-to-back contests against Binghamton and Towson. Additionally, Cecere drove in multiple runs in all five games, highlighted by a season-high four RBIs against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday. 

  • Cecere added to his nation-leading home run tally against the Spartans on Tuesday and Towson on Saturday night. The redshirt junior and teammate Brock Wilken are currently tied for the most long flies in the nation heading into midweek action. 

  • In addition to his long fly, Cecere scored a career-high four runs in the 18-1 victory against the Tigers. 

  • Behind another electric outing from Sullivan, Wake Forest defeated Mount St. Mary's 18-2 in the opening game of the twin bill. 

  • Sullivan retired the first 16 batters of the game and had a perfect game through 5.1 innings. Overall, Sullivan punched out 11 and allowed just one baserunner in his six hitless innings of work. 

  • Sullivan has made an immediate impact in the Old Gold and Black as the lefthander has tossed 10 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts and two hits allowed in two appearances.

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. 

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. 

Hawke 'Em

  • 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 (second in ACC) with a nation's 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 on Tuesday against UNC Wilmington. 

  • After registering two hits in Wake Forest's Sunday doubleheader during opening weekend, 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. 

  • In Wake Forest's 18-1 victory against Towson on Saturday, Hawke notched a career-high five hits. 

  • Last season, Hawke finished with 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. 

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

Lowder Day

  • Unanimous Preseason All-American and 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder earned his second win of 2023 after retiring the 16-straight batters, including a series of three-up, three-down innings. In the top of the fifth inning, Lowder tallied his seventh strikeout of the contest which marked the 200th strikeout of his Demon Deacon career. The strikeout completed an immaculate inning by the right hander.

  • The junior from Albemarle, N.C. held a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before it was broken up by a line-drive single to left. He finished the contest with seven innings pitched, eight punchouts and just two base runners allowed.

  • In his first appearance of 2023, Lowder struck 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.

  • Heading into his third start of 2023, Lowder ranks in the top 10 of the ACC in ERA, hits per nine, strikeout-walk ratio, strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings and WHIP. 

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

  • The Albemarle, N.C. native is currently 34 Ks away from entering the top 10 in Demon Deacon history after striking out a career-high 105 batters in 2022, 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 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 Ranking

    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
Nick Nukes

  • After one of the greatest seasons by a Wake Forest freshman in school history, Nick Kurtz impressed during 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 opening 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 Ranking

    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 23 more base knocks to tally 100 career hits. 

Cec Bombs

  • Adam Cecere is off to a hot start at the plate, leading Wake Forest total bases (37), runs scored (17), slugging percentage (1.057) and RBIs (18). The redshirt junior is tied for the team lead in runs scored (17) with Tommy Hawke and ranks second behind Brock Wilken in home runs (6). 

  • Cecere received the first ACC Player of the Week honor of his career after batting .579 over Wake Forest's perfect 5-0 week, recording 11 hits, a team-high 12 RBIs, a team-high tying 11 runs scored, a team-high four doubles, two home runs and four walks. Cecere tallied a team-best 1.105 slugging percentage and .652 on-base percentage.

  • Cecere tallied multi-hits in half of Wake Forest's games, highlighted by a trio of base knocks in back-to-back contests against Binghamton and Towson. Additionally, Cecere has drove in multiple runs in seven games, highlighted by a season-high four RBIs against UNC Greensboro last Tuesday. 

  • Overall, the 2022 team captain has reached safely in all 10 games, while scoring a run in eight. 

  • Cecere leads the ACC in runs scored, RBIs and total bases. Cecere ranks second in the ACC in slugging percentage and home runs. 

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 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 Kowilcik1989-92 47

      •      Kevin Bunn 1981-84 47 

      •      Brick Smith 1978-81 47

      • 8. Bill Merrifield 1981-83 45

      • 9.  Dave Lardieri1994-97 42

  • Wilken has been patient at the plate as the junior ranks fourth in the ACC with 10 walks. Wilken has drawn two walks in three of Wake Forest's first 10 games. 

  • Wilken needs 67 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

Sully Making Immediate Impact

  • Sean Sullivan has made an immediate impact in the Old Gold and Black as the lefthander has tossed 10 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts and two hits allowed in two appearances. For his efforts, Sullivan has received back-to-back ACC Pitcher and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week honors.  

  • Behind another electric outing from Sullivan, Wake Forest defeated Mount St. Mary's 18-2 in the opening game of the twin bill last Friday. 

  • Sullivan retired the first 16 batters of the game and had a perfect game through 5.1 innings. Overall, Sullivan punched out 11 and allowed just one baserunner in his six hitless innings of work.

  • 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. 

  • Sullivan and Rhett Lowder combined for 20 strikeouts in the game, the most strikeouts by a Wake Forest Saturday in almost two years (Coastal Carolina-Feb. 23, 2021).

  • The lefthander is one of five pitchers in the ACC to have not allowed an earned run this season and leads the conference with 21 strikeouts (fourth in the nation), 18.90 strikeouts per nine innings (fourth in the nation) and a .30 WHIP (second in the nation). 

Harlte Continues to Deal in Year Two

  • Josh Hartle earned the second win of his sophomore year in the final game of the weekend against Mount St. Mary's on Sunday with a career outing. The King, N.C. native fanned a career-high 11 batters in six innings while allowing no earned runs and no walks. Hartle struckout multiple batters in his last four innings, highlighted by a trio of punchouts in the fourth and sixth. 

  • Hartle has allowed one run or less in five of his last eight starts dating back to last season.

  • Currently, Hartle ranks second in the ACC in strikeouts (19).  

  • 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 then-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. 

Certified Stopper Camden Minacci

  • 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, in Wake Forest's midweek win. 

  • 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

  • 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. 

On Deck
After playing 12 of its first 13 games of the season inside The Couch, the Deacs head out on the road for five-straight games. 

Wake Forest will take on Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. on Tuesday, March 7 at 4 p.m. live on ESPN+. 

The Deacs then open conference play with a three-game series against Big-Four rival Duke inside Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham on March 10-12. 

A midweek matchup in Lynchburg, Va. against Liberty on Tuesday, March 14 concludes the five-game streak away from Winston-Salem, N.C. 

Follow The Deacs:

GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |

Related News

Skip Ad
All News
Baseball Stock
Walter Completes 2026 Staff with Additions of Matt Morales and Ryan Hendricks
Tuesday, August 26
Bobby Seymour
Bobby Seymour Set to Make MLB Debut with the Rays
Friday, August 15
Ezra Bye
Wake Forest Baseball Adds Ezra Bye as Pitching Lab Coordinator and Director of Player Development
Monday, July 21
Cam Nelson
Six from Wake Forest Baseball Selected in 2025 MLB Draft
Monday, July 14
All News
Skip Ad

Next Event

Purdue Fort Wayne
W, 11-0

Mar 3 (Fri)

1:30 p.m.
Box ScoreRecapGame NotesPDF Box ScoreListenPreviewLive stats
Full Schedule

Players Mentioned

42

Joe Ariola

LHP
/ Baseball
5

Pierce Bennett

OF/INF
/ Baseball
12

Adam Cecere

OF/INF
/ Baseball
3

Danny Corona

INF
/ Baseball
23

Josh Hartle

LHP
/ Baseball
24

Tommy Hawke

OF/INF
/ Baseball
7

Marek Houston

INF
/ Baseball
6

Justin Johnson

INF
/ Baseball
8

Nick Kurtz

OF/INF
/ Baseball
27

Bennett Lee

C
/ Baseball
4

Rhett Lowder

RHP
/ Baseball
4

Rhett Lowder

RHP
/ Baseball
30

Michael Massey

RHP
/ Baseball
42

Teddy McGraw

RHP
/ Baseball
10

Camden Minacci

RHP
/ Baseball
14

Camden Minacci

RHP
/ Baseball
28

Cole Roland

RHP
/ Baseball
10

Ben Shenosky

RHP
/ Baseball
51

Sean Sullivan

LHP
/ Baseball
25

Brock Wilken

INF/C
/ Baseball
25

Brock Wilken

INF/C
/ Baseball

Related Videos

Skip Ad
All Videos
Football Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10
All Videos