No. 2 Wake Forest Opens ACC Play with Weekend Series at Duke

DURHAM, N.C. – The No. 2 Wake Forest baseball team continues its five-game road trip with its first ACC series of the season against Big-Four rival Duke at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on March 10-12.

The Deacs (13-1) and Blue Devils (9-4) open the series at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 10 before returning to the DBAP for game two at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 11. The series finale is slated for Sunday, March 12 at 1 p.m.

All three games will be streamed 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.

Opponent/Series History
The Demon Deacons and Blue Devils are longtime rivals, facing off on the diamond 176 times since their first meeting in 1954. Wake Forest owns a 114-62 advantage over Duke.

Last season, the Deacs swept Duke for the first time since 2008, outscoring the Blue Devils, 27-16, at David F. Couch Ballpark. Wake Forest's 16-11 Sunday victory marked Coach Walter's 350th win as the head coach of the Deacs.

Deacs in the Polls

No. 2- Collegiate Baseball
No. 3- Perfect Game
No. 4- USA Today Coaches Poll
No. 5- D1Baseball
No. 6- 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
Josh Hartle
- Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (March 6)
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

First Time in 74 Years

Wake Forest started 13-0 for just the second time in program history, joining the 1949 Deacs, who hold the program's best open to a campaign at 20-0, as the only teams in school history to win its first 13 games.
- Best Starts in Program History:
  - - 13-0: 2023, 1949
  - - 14-0: 1949
  - - 15-0: 1949
  - - 16-0: 1949
  - - 17-0: 1949
  - - 18-0: 1949
  - -19-0: 1949
  - - 20-0: 1949
Wake Forest's 13-straight wins this season was the longest winning streak overall since the Deacs won 15 in a row during the 2012 season.

Pitching Thriving Early

Wake Forest's pitching staff has impressed in its first 14 games as 16 arms hit the mound throughout the opening slate. The Demon Deacon pitching staff leads the nation in hits per nine, strikeouts per nine and WHIP, while ranking first in the ACC in ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Category	National	ACC
Hits Per Nine (5.34)	1	1
WHIP (.84)	1	1
Ks Per Nine (13.8)	1	1
K-BB Ration (6.30)	2	1
ERA (1.98)	2	1
BBs Per Nine (2.11)	6	2

Wake Forest has fanned double-digit batters in 11 of its first 14 games this season and have held opponents to one run or less in six games. Overall as a staff, the Deacs have averaged 13.5 strikeouts per game this season while averaging just over two walks per game.

Rake Forest

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

Category	National	ACC
Walks (121)	1	1
Scoring (12.1)	1	1
Runs (169)	2	1
On-Base % (.488)	2	1
Hits (167)	3	1
HR (34)	3	1
Average (.344)	6	2
Slugging % (.625)	6	2

Nine Deacs have launched a long fly, headlined by Brock Wilken with 11, which is tied for the most in the nation, Adam Cecere with seven, Nick Kurtz with six, Justin Johnson with three and Pierce Bennett 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 seven Deacs have notched at double-digit hits.
Wake Forest has reached double-digit hits in eight of its first 13 games while scoring at least 15 runs in five contests.

Point Differential Driving Deacs

Wake Forest has outscored opponents by double-digits in six innings this season. The Deacs have only had an offensive opportunity in the ninth in two games this season (at UNC Greensboro on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and Coastal Carolina on March 7).
- Wake Forest Scoring Summary by Inning (Wake Forest-Opponent)
  - First Inning: 36-7
  - Second Inning: 18-7
  - Third Inning: 21-4
  - Fourth Inning: 28-5
  - Fifth Inning: 25-5
  - Sixth Inning: 12-1
  - Seventh Inning: 11-4
  - Eighth Inning: 17-5
  - Ninth Inning: 1-2
Overall, the Deacs are outscoring opponents by a 169-40 mark.
Wake Forest's 131-point differential through 13 games was the largest mark in Coach Walter's 14-year tenure and was believed to be the largest differential through 13 games in program history.

Weekend Rotation Shoving

Wake Forest's starting weekend rotation of Rhett Lowder, Sean Sullivan and Josh Hartle has been lights out to open the 2023 season.
Through the first three weekends, the trio has posted eight wins with a combined ERA of 1.03 in 52 innings. Lowder, Sullivan and Hartle have combined to strike out 88 batters while allowing just six earned runs and walking just seven batters.
All three rank in top 10 among ACC foes in almost every pitching category.

Patience at the Plate Paying Dividends

Wake Forest has been patient at the plate as the Deacs have been walked 121 times, the most in the nation by seven.
The Deacs have been walked at least 10 times in three games this season. In all of those contests, Wake Forest has scored double-digit runs, while notching double-digit hits twice.

Opponent Hits Walks Runs

Youngstown St 12 14 18

Cornell 8 11 10

Coastal Carolina 11 10 11
Wake Forest is the only school in the ACC with three players in the top-10 in on-base percentage:
- Tommy Hawke: 1st
- Adam Cecere: 9th
- Justin Johnson: 10th
Six Deacs have already reached the double-digit walk mark this season:
- Tommy Hawke: 16
- Adam Cecere: 14
- Brock Wilken: 13
- Nick Kurtz: 11
- Marek Houston: 11
- Justin Johnson: 10
Overall this season, the Demon Deacons are +91 in walks compared to their opponents.

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 14 games, Hawke leads the Deacs with a .537 batting average (fourth in the nation) and 29 hits (second in the nation).
Hawke also ranks in the top five among conference competitors in runs (first), on-base percentage (first) and walks (third).
Dating back to last season, Hawke holds the second-longest reached base streak in the nation (44 games) and leads the Deacs with a 12-game hitting streak.
Hawke's third base knock in the seventh inning against Coastal Carolina marked the 100th hit of his career.
In Wake Forest's 18-1 victory against Towson on Feb. 25 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.

Certified Stopper Camden Minacci

A staple out of Wake Forest's bullpen the last two seasons, Camden Minacci earned the second save of his junior season after tossing a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout to secure Wake Forest's win over UNC Wilmington on Feb. 28.
Over the course of his career, Minacci has registered 10 saves as the Tampa, Fla. native moved into the top 10 in Wake Forest history for career saves, tying current student assistant coach and 2016 first round pick Will Craig.
- 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. Camden Minacci 2021-pres. 10
  - Will Craig 2014-16 10
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.

Lowder Day

Unanimous Preseason All-American and 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder earned his third win of his junior season as the Reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year tossed seven scoreless frames while striking out eight Mastodon batters. This marked the fifth career scoreless outing from the Wake Forest righthander.
Highlighted by zeroes in his last two outings, Lowder has now totaled a 0.47 ERA through 19 innings to go along with 26 strikeouts, 11 hits, two walks and one earned run conceded this season.
Lowder earned win number two of the season after retiring the 16-straight batters, including a series of three-up, three-down innings against Binghamton. 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 fourth start this weekend, Lowder ranks in the top 10 of the ACC in ERA, strikeout-to-walk ratio, strikeouts and WHIP. Additionally, Lowder is just one of nine pitchers in the conference to already have earned three victories this year.
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 18 games and sits just four victories away from entering the top 10 in Wake Forest history for career wins.
The Albemarle, N.C. native is currently 26 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 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 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 10th and 11th home runs of the season on Tuesday, Wilken has launched a long fly in eight of Wake Forest's last 10 games. The Valrico, Fla. native is tied for the nation's lead in home runs and has hit the most career home runs among active players in Division I baseball.
After hitting the most home runs by a Demon Deacon in their first two seasons ever, Wilken has hit 51 home runs in his career, which is the third-most by a Demon Deacon ever.
- Wake Forest Career Home Runs
  - 1. Jamie D'Antona 2001-03 58
  - 2. Jake Austin 1989-92 55
  - 3. Brock Wilken 2021-Pres. 51
  - 4. Allan Dykstra 2006-08 49
  - 5. 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
Wilken has been off to a scorching start at the plate, posting a .389 average and leads the team with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs, 56 total bases and a 1.037 slugging percentage (eighth in the nation).
The junior has reached base in all 14 games this season and is currently on a 10-game hit streak while posting 10 multi-RBI games.
Wilken has been patient at the plate as the junior ranks in the top 10 of the ACC with 13 walks. Wilken has drawn two walks in three of Wake Forest's first 14 games.
Wilken needs 59 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.

Nicky Nukes

After one of the greatest seasons by a Wake Forest freshman in school history, Nick Kurtz has impressed during the opening slate of games.
Kurtz is currently second on the team in average (.424) and slugging percentage (1.030). In 10 games, the Lancaster, Pa. native has tallied five multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games. Kurtz heads into conference play on a seven-game hitting streak.
Kurtz earned the first ACC Player of the Week honors of his career after leading 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 home runs (fifth).
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.

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 needs just 19 more base knocks to tally 100 career hits.

Sully Making Immediate Impact

Sean Sullivan has made an immediate impact in the Old Gold and Black as Sullivan has registered a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings to go along with 31 strikeouts, three earned runs and four walks allowed. Additionally, opponents are batting just .098 against the lefthander. For his efforts, Sullivan received back-to-back ACC Pitcher and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week honors to open the season.
The lefthander leads the conference in hits per nine (3.00), strikeouts (31), strikeouts per nine (18.60) and WHIP (.60). Additionally, Sullivan ranks seventh in strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Sullivan earned his second win of the 2023 season, tossing five innings while striking out 10, his third-straight double-digit strikeout performance to open the season.
Sullivan began his outing by retiring the side in back-to-back innings, fanning five of the first six batters he faced. The reigning two-time ACC Pitcher of the Week ended his performance with a pair of strikeouts to reach the double-digit mark and secure his third perfect frame.
Behind another electric outing from Sullivan, Wake Forest defeated Mount St. Mary's 18-2 in the opening game of the second weekend.
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).

Hartle Continues to Deal in Year Two

Josh Hartle has accumulated a 1.00 ERA through 18 innings to go along with 31 strikeouts . The lefthander has allowed just two earned runs and has only walked one batter.
Hartle earned the third win of his sophomore year in the final game of the weekend against Cornell on Sunday with a career-high 12 strikeouts in a career-high tying seven innings.
Currently, Hartle is tied for first in the ACC in strikeouts (31), second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (31.00) and walks allowed per nine (.50). Hartle is fourth in strikeouts-per-nine (15.50) and fifth in ERA (1.00).
After the first inning, the King, N.C. native settled in as the lefthander struckout multiple batters in the four innings, highlighted by seven of his punchouts across his final three frames.
8 The outing marked the sixth time in his last nine starts the lefthander has allowed one run or less.
Last Sunday, Hartle fanned a then-career high 11 batters in six innings while allowing no earned runs and no walks for his second victory of 2023. Hartle struckout multiple batters in his last four innings, highlighted by a trio of punchouts in the fourth and sixth.
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.

On Deck
A midweek matchup in Lynchburg, Va. against Liberty on Tuesday, March 14 at 4 p.m. concludes the five-game streak away from Winston-Salem, N.C.

The game will be available on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.

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No. 2 Wake Forest Opens ACC Play with Weekend Series at Duke

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Players Mentioned

Pierce Bennett

Adam Cecere

Danny Corona

Josh Hartle

Tommy Hawke

Marek Houston

Justin Johnson

Nick Kurtz

Rhett Lowder

Teddy McGraw

Camden Minacci

Sean Sullivan

Brock Wilken

Opponent	Hits	Walks	Runs
Youngstown St	12	14	18
Cornell	8	11	10
Coastal Carolina	11	10	11

Wake Forest Athletics

No. 2 Wake Forest Opens ACC Play with Weekend Series at Duke

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Players Mentioned

Pierce Bennett

Adam Cecere

Danny Corona

Josh Hartle

Tommy Hawke

Marek Houston

Justin Johnson

Nick Kurtz

Rhett Lowder

Teddy McGraw

Camden Minacci

Sean Sullivan

Brock Wilken

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