Friday, April 14
Louisville, KY
6:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
11
at
5
Louisville
No. 2 Deacs Reach 30-Win Mark; Defeat No. 8 Louisville in Series Opener for Ninth-Straight Conference Victory
4/14/2023 10:26:00 PM | Baseball
The 2023 Demon Deacons became the fastest Wake Forest team to reach the 30-win mark since 1949. Additionally, Wake Forest’s 13-2 mark in league play is its best start through 15 ACC games since 2002.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Behind five home runs and five strong innings in relief of Seth Keener, the No. 2 Wake Forest baseball team claimed its 30th win of the season and ninth-straight ACC win, defeating No. 8 Louisville, 11-5, in the series opener on Friday night inside Jim Patterson Stadium.
With the six-run victory, the 2023 Demon Deacons (30-4, 13-2 ACC) became the fastest Wake Forest team to reach the 30-win mark since 1949. Additionally, Wake Forest's 13-2 mark in league play is its best start through 15 ACC games since 2002.
Currently, the Demon Deacons are one of three teams in the country with 30 wins (Virginia and South Carolina) while owning the ACC's best conference record.
Over its current nine-game conference win streak, Wake Forest is outscoring opponents by a mark of 60-25.
Wake Forest's offense exploded for nine unanswered runs, powered by four home runs, in consecutive innings to take control of the series opener.
Back-to-back-to-back home runs from Brock Wilken (three run), Pierce Bennett (solo) and Justin Johnson (solo) gave Wake Forest a 5-1 lead in the third before Johnson lifted a grand slam in the fourth to push the Demon Deacon advantage to 9-1.
The Deacs responded to a pair of Cardinal runs with two runs of their own in the fifth as Tommy Hawke demolished Wake Forest's fifth home run of the game over the right field wall.
With the Deacs leading 11-4, Seth Keener retired nine straight-batters over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to keep the momentum on Wake Forest's side.
Louisville added one unearned run in the eighth before Keener and Derek Crum slammed the door in the ninth, retiring the side in order to clinch the win.
Wake Forest's five long flies matched a season high (Illinois, Feb. 19) while their 16 hits marked the sixth game this season with at least 15 base knocks.
The consecutive homers from Wilken, Bennett and Johnson in the third inning was the first time Wake Forest hit back-to-back-to-back long flies since last year's ACC Tournament matchup against Miami.
Hawke led Wake Forest at the plate with four hits, tallying two singles, a double and his second HR of the season. Lucas Costello and Johnson added three base hits, while Bennett extended his team-best hit streak to 17 games with his long fly and single.
Johnson's five RBIs marked a career high while Wilken's three runs driven in was the 17th multi-RBI game of the season for the junior.
Keener moved to 5-0 on the season as the junior allowed just one hit and one earned run while striking out six.
Sean Sullivan made his seventh start of the season, tossing 3.2 innings with a trio of punchouts.
Crum retired the only batter he faced in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the series-opening victory.
How It Happened
"A really great win. It's Friday night in the ACC. We don't throw Rhett Lowder. Sean Sullivan was pitching on short rest. I was certainly worried about that, but I give Sully a ton of credit. He went out there and battled. He got us big outs. He got us the lead and then Seth Keener took over from there. He was really good.
"The bats were clearly the difference. Back-to-back-to-back home runs there. Lucas Costello with a great bunt before Brock's home run. Then the two solos after Brock's. JJ's grand slam with two outs was the difference in the game. It seemed like every time Louisville answered, we answered right back. Tommy Hawke again with a two-run homer. I felt like we were a little sloppy. Too many free 90s costed us some runs. That will come back to haunt us the next two days. We have to clean things up a little bit, but a good team win."
Standout Stats
With the six-run victory, the 2023 Demon Deacons became the fastest team to reach the 30-win mark since 1949. Additionally, Wake Forest's 13-2 mark in league play is the best start through 15 ACC games since 2002.
Over its current nine-game conference win streak, Wake Forest is outscoring opponents by a mark of 60-25.
Wake Forest has outscored opponents by double-digits in eight innings this season.
Wake Forest Scoring Summary by Inning (Wake Forest-Opponent)
Much of Wake Forest's success has been fast starts as the Deacs have outscored opponents by a mark of 133-36 in the opening three innings.
The Deacs plated five runs in an inning for the second-straight game. Overall, Wake Forest has registered 11 innings with at least five runs this season.
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 16th home run of the season on Friday night, Wilken is tied for third in the nation while ranking first in the ACC in HRs and has hit the most career long flies among active players in Division I baseball.
After hitting the most home runs by a Demon Deacon in their first two seasons ever, Wilken is now sole possession of the second-most home runs by a Demon Deacon ever with 56. The Valrico, Fla. native is just three home runs away from breaking the program record.
Bennett has posted team-highs in average (.422), hits (27), RBIs (24), doubles (10), slugging percentage (.719) and on-base percentage (.486).
In ACC play, Bennett also leads the Deacs in average (.339), hits (20), RBIs (15), doubles (8) and slugging percentage (.576).
On Deck
The Deacs will look to claim its sixth ACC series on Saturday, April 15 at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
The teams will wrap up the series on Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
With the six-run victory, the 2023 Demon Deacons (30-4, 13-2 ACC) became the fastest Wake Forest team to reach the 30-win mark since 1949. Additionally, Wake Forest's 13-2 mark in league play is its best start through 15 ACC games since 2002.
Currently, the Demon Deacons are one of three teams in the country with 30 wins (Virginia and South Carolina) while owning the ACC's best conference record.
Over its current nine-game conference win streak, Wake Forest is outscoring opponents by a mark of 60-25.
Wake Forest's offense exploded for nine unanswered runs, powered by four home runs, in consecutive innings to take control of the series opener.
Back-to-back-to-back home runs from Brock Wilken (three run), Pierce Bennett (solo) and Justin Johnson (solo) gave Wake Forest a 5-1 lead in the third before Johnson lifted a grand slam in the fourth to push the Demon Deacon advantage to 9-1.
The Deacs responded to a pair of Cardinal runs with two runs of their own in the fifth as Tommy Hawke demolished Wake Forest's fifth home run of the game over the right field wall.
With the Deacs leading 11-4, Seth Keener retired nine straight-batters over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to keep the momentum on Wake Forest's side.
Louisville added one unearned run in the eighth before Keener and Derek Crum slammed the door in the ninth, retiring the side in order to clinch the win.
Wake Forest's five long flies matched a season high (Illinois, Feb. 19) while their 16 hits marked the sixth game this season with at least 15 base knocks.
The consecutive homers from Wilken, Bennett and Johnson in the third inning was the first time Wake Forest hit back-to-back-to-back long flies since last year's ACC Tournament matchup against Miami.
Hawke led Wake Forest at the plate with four hits, tallying two singles, a double and his second HR of the season. Lucas Costello and Johnson added three base hits, while Bennett extended his team-best hit streak to 17 games with his long fly and single.
Johnson's five RBIs marked a career high while Wilken's three runs driven in was the 17th multi-RBI game of the season for the junior.
Keener moved to 5-0 on the season as the junior allowed just one hit and one earned run while striking out six.
Sean Sullivan made his seventh start of the season, tossing 3.2 innings with a trio of punchouts.
Crum retired the only batter he faced in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the series-opening victory.
How It Happened
- Tommy Hawke led off the game with a single to center field before advancing to second with one out thanks to a Brock Wilken walk. A double play ended the threat in the top of the first.
- Louisville took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning with a two-out RBI single. Sean Sullivan responded with a groundout to strand runners on the corners.
- Justin Johnson led off the top of the second with a single up the middle and advanced into scoring position with a stolen base. A pair of fly outs and a strikeout ended the scoring chance.
- Sullivan notched a perfect 1-2-3 bottom of second with a strikeout, pop up and ground out.
- Back-to-back-to-back home runs from Brock Wilken (three-run), Pierce Bennett (solo) and Justin Johnson (solo) gave Wake Forest a 5-1 lead in the top of the third.
- Hawke doubled to right field with one out before Lucas Costello laid down a perfect bunt to put runners on the corners. Wilken's 16th home run of the season scored the pair and gave the Demon Deacons its first lead of the game.
- Bennett and Johnson's solo homers extended the lead to four.
- Sullivan tallied a shutdown inning with two strikeouts and a lineout to left field as Wake Forest took its four-run lead (5-1) to the fourth.
- A Johnson grand slam with two outs in the top of the fourth extended Wake Forest's lead to 9-1.
- Hawke singled, his third base knock of the game, before advancing to second on a throwing error. Bennett singled to third base to load the bases before Johnson launched his second home run of the game.
- A fielder's choice and a balk with runners on the corners trimmed Wake Forest's lead to 9-3 after four full innings.
- Seth Keener took over on the mound with two outs and induced the final out of the inning with a fly out to center.
- Wake Forest responded with two runs of their own as Hawke launched the Demon Deacons' fifth home run of the night to push Wake Forest's lead to 11-3.
- Hawke opened the night a perfect 4-4 at the plate with two singles, a double and his second long fly of the season.
- The Cardinals notched an RBI-single to cut the Demon Deacon advantage to 11-4 after five full innings.
- Keener retired three-straight batters with a strikeout, fly out and groundout to end the frame.
- Keener retired six-straight batters over the sixth and seventh frames to keep Wake Forest's lead secure at 11-4.
- Keener fanned a trio of batters in the sequence.
- Louisville plated a run in the bottom of the eighth due to a throwing error as Wake Forest took a six-run lead into the final inning.
- Keener fanned his fifth batter of his outing for the opening out before inducing a groundout and pop up to end the inning.
- Keener and Derek Crum combined to retire the side in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 11-5 series-opening victory.
"A really great win. It's Friday night in the ACC. We don't throw Rhett Lowder. Sean Sullivan was pitching on short rest. I was certainly worried about that, but I give Sully a ton of credit. He went out there and battled. He got us big outs. He got us the lead and then Seth Keener took over from there. He was really good.
"The bats were clearly the difference. Back-to-back-to-back home runs there. Lucas Costello with a great bunt before Brock's home run. Then the two solos after Brock's. JJ's grand slam with two outs was the difference in the game. It seemed like every time Louisville answered, we answered right back. Tommy Hawke again with a two-run homer. I felt like we were a little sloppy. Too many free 90s costed us some runs. That will come back to haunt us the next two days. We have to clean things up a little bit, but a good team win."
Standout Stats
With the six-run victory, the 2023 Demon Deacons became the fastest team to reach the 30-win mark since 1949. Additionally, Wake Forest's 13-2 mark in league play is the best start through 15 ACC games since 2002.
- Fastest to 30 Wins
- 1949: 30-2 (32 games)
- 2023: 30-4 (34 games)
- 1950: 30-5 (35 games)
- 2002: 30-6 (36 games)
- 2000: 30-9-1 (40 games)
- 1977: 30-13 (41 games)
- 2001: 30-12 (42 games)
- 1999: 30-12 (42 games)
- 1994: 30-12 (42 games)
- 2022: 30-13 (43 games)
- 2017: 30-13 (43 games)
- 2006: 30-13 (43 games)
- 1997: 30-15 (45 games)
- 1991: 30-15 (45 games)
- 1998: 30-17 (47 games)
- 1989: 30-17 (47 games)
- 1992: 30-18 (48 games)
- 1993: 30-18 (48 games)
- 1995: 30-22 (52 games)
- 1988: 30-23 (53 games)
- 1990: 30-22-1 (53 games)
Over its current nine-game conference win streak, Wake Forest is outscoring opponents by a mark of 60-25.
Wake Forest has outscored opponents by double-digits in eight innings this season.
Wake Forest Scoring Summary by Inning (Wake Forest-Opponent)
- First Inning: 60-10
- Second Inning: 26-13
- Third Inning: 47-12
- Fourth Inning: 48-13
- Fifth Inning: 52-21
- Sixth Inning: 23-5
- Seventh Inning: 26-6
- Eighth Inning: 32-16
- Ninth Inning: 5-9
Much of Wake Forest's success has been fast starts as the Deacs have outscored opponents by a mark of 133-36 in the opening three innings.
The Deacs plated five runs in an inning for the second-straight game. Overall, Wake Forest has registered 11 innings with at least five runs this season.
- Youngstown State (Feb. 17): Six runs (second inning)
- Youngstown State (Feb. 19): 12 runs (fourth inning)
- UNCG (Feb. 21): Eight runs (first inning)
- Mount St. Mary's (Feb. 24): Six runs (fifth inning)
- Towson (Feb. 25): Five runs (third inning)
- Towson (Feb. 25: Five runs (eighth inning)
- UNC Wilmington (Feb. 28): Five runs (first inning)
- Elon (March 21): Seven runs (first inning)
- Elon (March 21): Seven runs (fifth inning)
- App State (April 11): Five runs (fifth inning)
- Louisville (April 14): Five runs (third inning)
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 16th home run of the season on Friday night, Wilken is tied for third in the nation while ranking first in the ACC in HRs and has hit the most career long flies among active players in Division I baseball.
After hitting the most home runs by a Demon Deacon in their first two seasons ever, Wilken is now sole possession of the second-most home runs by a Demon Deacon ever with 56. The Valrico, Fla. native is just three home runs away from breaking the program record.
- Wake Forest Career Home Runs
- 1. Jamie D'Antona 2001-03 58
- 2. Brock Wilken 2021-Pres. 56
- 3. Jake Austin 1989-92 55
- 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
Bennett has posted team-highs in average (.422), hits (27), RBIs (24), doubles (10), slugging percentage (.719) and on-base percentage (.486).
In ACC play, Bennett also leads the Deacs in average (.339), hits (20), RBIs (15), doubles (8) and slugging percentage (.576).
On Deck
The Deacs will look to claim its sixth ACC series on Saturday, April 15 at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
The teams will wrap up the series on Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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