No. 2 Wake Forest Hosts Liberty in Midweek Matchup

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 2 Wake Forest baseball team returns home to the friendly confines of David F. Couch Ballpark to finish its non-conference season series against Liberty on Wednesday, April 19.

The Deacs are fresh off its sixth-straight ACC series victory of the season as Wake Forest posted its first ever series win against nationally-ranked Louisville at Jim Patterson Stadium this past weekend.

Wake Forest's .861 winning percentage is the best in the nation. Additionally, the Deacs lead the ACC in conference wins while tying for the most overall wins among conference foes with Virginia.

Wake Forest returns to The Couch for the first time since its Sunday doubleheader sweep of Big Four rival NC State on April 9th. Over the last two seasons, the Deacs have compiled a 46-8-1 record inside David F. Couch Ballpark, highlighted by its 20-1 record this year.

Overall, the Deacs have outscored opponents, 514-179, at The Couch since 2022.

First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Additionally, fans can tune into an audio streaming broadcast through the Wake Forest Athletics app.
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.
Please note that metal detection procedures will be implemented for the entry process to David F. Couch Ballpark. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and limit the number of personal belongings brought with them.

Promotions

$5 Midweeks
- $5 GA tickets
- $5 Hot Dogs
- $5 Deacon Brews
Jersey Koozie Giveaway (First 300 fans)

Deacs in the Polls

No. 2- D1Baseball
No. 2- USA Today Coaches Poll
No. 2- NCBWA
No. 3- Perfect Game
No. 3- Baseball America
No. 3- Collegiate Baseball

Wake Forest Honors

Adam Cecere
- ACC Player of the Week (Feb. 27)
Josh Hartle
- Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List
- Perfect Game Midseason All-American
- D1Baseball Midseason All-American
- Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (March 6)
Tommy Hawke
- Perfect Game Midseason All-American
Nick Kurtz
- Perfect Game Midseason All-American
- D1Baseball Midseason All-American
- 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
- 2023 ACC Pitcher of the Week (April 17)
- Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List
- D1Baseball Midseason All-American
- Perfect Game Midseason All-American
- 2023 ACC Pitcher of the Week (March 27)
- 2023 Perfect Game Pitcher of the Week (March 27)
- 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
- Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List
- Perfect Game Midseason All-American
- D1Baseball Midseason All-American
- 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
- Perfect Game Midseason All-American
- 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

OPPONENT/SERIES HISTORY

The Demon Deacons lead the all-time series against the Flames by a 24-9-2 mark.
Wake Forest heads into Wednesday's match up on a three-game win streak against Liberty.
On March 15, the Deacs posted a 12-5 win in Lynchburg. Reed Mascolo opened his fourth start of the season with three-consecutive zeros while a Brock Wilken three-run home run, two-out, two-RBI single from Pierce Bennett and a pair of Liberty miscues allowed Wake Forest to take a 7-0 lead through three frames.

BEST START SINCE 1949

Wake Forest is off to the program's best start through 36 games since 1949.
Best Starts in Program History Through 36 Games:
- 31-5: 2023, 1949
- 30-6: 1950
Wake Forest started the year 13-0, 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.
The Demon Deacons' .861 winning percentage is the best in the nation. Additionally, Wake Forest leads the ACC in conference wins while tying for the most overall wins with Virginia.

PITCHING STAFF AMONG BEST IN THE COUNTRY

Wake Forest's pitching staff ranks as one of the premier groups in the entire nation.
The Demon Deacon pitching staff leads the nation in strikeouts, strikeouts-per-nine innings, WHIP, strikeout-to-walk ratio and ERA, while ranking first in the ACC and top-2 nationally in every other category.

Category	National	ACC
Strikeouts (425)	1	1
ERA (2.41)	1	1
Ks-Per-Nine (12.1)	1	1
WHIP (.97)	1	1
K-to-BB Ratio (5.18)	1	1
Hits-Per-Nine (6.42)	2	1
BB-Per-Nine (2.33)	2	1

Wake Forest has fanned double-digit batters in 22 games this season and have held opponents to three runs or less in 24 games. Overall as a staff, the Deacs have averaged 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings this season while averaging just over two walks per game.
Every pitcher who has tossed at least double-digit innings this season has held opponents to a sub .250 batting average or lower.
- Cole Roland (16.2 IP): .089
- Sean Sullivan (44.0 IP): .156
- Seth Keener (35.0 IP): .140
- Michael Massey (21.2 IP): .176
- Rhett Lowder (56.0 IP): .215
- Josh Hartle (51.2 IP): .230
- Reed Mascolo (37.0 IP): .234
- Camden Minacci (15.0 IP): .258

RAKE FOREST

The Deacs lead the ACC in walks, while ranking in the top five of every other offensive category.

Category	National	ACC
Walks (234)	2	1
Runs (322)	10	2
On-Base % (.424)	14	2
Slugging % (.528)	18	2
Scoring (8.9)	12	3
HRs (65)	14	3
Doubles (82)	18	5
Hits (364)	46	5
Average (.297)	58	5

13 Deacs have launched a long fly, headlined by Brock Wilken with 16, Nick Kurtz with 10, Adam Cecere with nine, Justin Johnson with eight, Pierce Bennett with five, Chris Katz and Danny Corona with three, Kyle Joye, Tommy Hawke, Bennett Lee and Gio Cueto with two and Lucas Costello and Marek Houston with one.
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. Additionally, this is tied for the ninth-highest scoring mark in an inning in the nation.
Wake Forest has reached double-digit hits in 15 games while scoring at least 10 runs in 16 contests.

DEACS IN ACC PLAY

Wake Forest is off to a 14-3 mark in conference play, the program's best start through 17 games in program history.
The Demon Deacons are +40 in run differential through the first four series, outscoring opponents 96-56.
After taking two out of three against Duke and Notre Dame, Wake Forest posted three-straight perfect weekends against Miami (first time ever), Clemson (first time since 2012) and NC State (second-straight season). Last weekend, the Deacs earned its first ever series win in Louisville and became the first team since 2021 to win a series at Jim Patterson Stadium.
The Deacs outscored the Hurricanes 19-2 in front of the largest regular season weekend crowd at David F. Couch Ballpark ever.

Wake Forest Series Run Differential

Duke -3 (14-17)
Notre Dame +10 (17-7)
Miami +17 (19-2)
Clemson +7 (18-11)
NC State +5 (12-7)
Louisville +4 (16-12)
Total +40 (96-56)

Category #
Strikeouts 192
ERA 2.64
Walks Allowed 40
Hits Allowed 122
Opp. Batting Average .219
Category #
Batting Average .245
Hits 136
Walks 73
Home Runs 21
On-Base % .350
Slugging % .424

In conference play, Wake Forest's 2.64 ERA is the lowest in the conference and is almost one full run less than the next closest team. Additionally, the Demon Deacons have shut out two ACC opponents this season (Miami and Louisville), the most in the conference.

WEEKEND ROTATION FLOODS GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST

Wake Forest baseball had a program-record three selections to the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball on Wednesday afternoon.
The Demon Deacons' entire weekend starting pitching rotation of Rhett Lowder, Sean Sullivan and Josh Hartle was named to the 45-player midseason list for the annual award given to the nation's top amateur players from the high school and college ranks, setting a new program record and tying for the most selections in the nation with LSU.
The trio became the third, fourth and fifth Deac since 2012 to be named to the midseason watch list.
Demon Deacons on the Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List
- Josh Hartle (2023)
- Rhett Lowder (2023)
- Sean Sullivan (2023)
- Griffin Roberts (2018)
- Will Craig (2016)
- Will Craig (2015)

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 six weekends, the trio has posted 17 wins with a combined ERA of 1.80 in 135.2 innings. Lowder, Sullivan and Hartle have combined to strike out 198 batters while allowing just 27 earned runs and walking just 27 batters.
All three rank in top 10 among ACC foes in almost every pitching category:

	Lowder	Sullivan	Hartle
ERA	1st	5th	8th
K-BB Ratio	3rd	1st	2nd
Strikeouts	3rd	1st	2nd
Ks-Per-Nine	9th	4th	1st
WHIP	3rd	1st	1st
BBs-Per-Nine	3rd	4th	1st
Wins	1st	8th	4th

This week, all three landed in the nation's top 10 starting pitchers according to D1Baseball as Wake Forest is the only school in the nation with three arms in the top 10:
- Rhett Lowder: No. 2
- Sean Sullivan: No. 4
- Josh Hartle: No. 7

RUN DIFFERENTIAL DRIVING DEACS SUCCESS

Wake Forest has outscored opponents by double-digits in eight innings this season.
- Wake Forest Scoring Summary by Inning (Wake Forest-Opponent)
  - First Inning: 61-11
  - Second Inning: 26-13
  - Third Inning: 48-12
  - Fourth Inning: 49-13
  - Fifth Inning: 53-21
  - Sixth Inning: 24-10
  - Seventh Inning: 26-8
  - Eighth Inning: 30-16
  - Ninth Inning: 5-9
Overall, the Deacs are outscoring opponents by a 322-113 mark.
Wake Forest has scored in the first inning in 22 games this season, posting a 19-3 record in those games. Additionally, the Deacs are 22-3 when they score first.
Wake Forest's +5.8 run differential per game is good for the second-highest in the nation behind LSU (+6.1).
Much of Wake Forest's success has been fast starts as the Deacs have outscored opponents by a mark of 135-36 in the opening three innings.
Wake Forest has notched 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)

DEACONS & THE ACC WEEKLY HONORS

Through the first nine weeks of the season, four Demon Deacons have received six ACC Player or Pitcher of the Week honors from the conference for performances:
- Feb. 20 (Week 1): Nick Kurtz and Sean Sullivan
- Feb. 27 (Week 2): Adam Cecere and Sean Sullivan
- March 27 (Week 6): Rhett Lowder
- April 17 (Week 9): Rhett Lowder

PROTECT THE COUCH

Over the last two seasons, Wake Forest has compiled a 46-8-1 record inside David F. Couch Ballpark.
With its Saturday sweep of the Fighting Irish, this year's Demon Deacon ballclub became the first team in program history to win its first 14 home games.
Overall, the Deacs have outscored opponents, 514-179, at The Couch since last year.

LOWDER DAY

Unanimous Preseason All-American and 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder has totaled a 1.61 ERA through 56 innings to go along with 67 strikeouts, 44 hits, eight walks and 10 earned runs conceded this season.
Heading into his 10th start this weekend, Lowder holds the lowest ERA in the ACC while sitting tied for the conference's lead in wins. Additionally, Lowder ranks in the top three in strikeout-to-walk ratio, strikeouts, WHIP and walks-per-nine innings.
Over the course of his career, Lowder has won 22 games, which is tied for ninth in program history.
- Wake Forest Career Wins
  - 1. John Hendricks (1996-99)- 34
  - 2. Kyle Sleeth (2001-03)- 31
  - 3. Frank Humber (1986-89)- 29
  - 4. Parker Dunshee (2014-17)- 28
  - 5. Scott Siemon (1998-01)- 25
  - Mike MacDougal (1997-99)- 25
  - 7. Marc Palmieri (1990-93)- 24
  - 8. Eric Schmitt (1997-00)- 23
  - 9. Rhett Lowder (2021-Pres.)- 22
  - Warren Newton (1978-81)-22
  - Moe Bauer (1947-50)- 22
Lowder earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors for his shutdown performance at Louisville, tossing seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Lowder allowed just five base runners as the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year notched his second outing of the season with no walks. The Albemarle, N.C. native registered perfect frames in the second, fourth, sixth and allowed more than one base runner in just one inning.
The Deacs got another stellar performance from Lowder on the bump in its series-opening win against Clemson as he moved to 6-0 for the first time in his career. Lowder tossed seven innings for the third-straight weekend, allowing one earned run and one walk while striking out six. With his fourth punchout in the fifth inning, Lowder rewrote the Wake Forest record book as the Albemarle, N.C. native entered the top 10 in program history in career strikeouts. He currently sits in ninth on the list.
With nine Ks against Louisville, Lowder jumped into a tie for seventh with Ross Atkins on Wake Forest's career strikeout list.
- Wake Forest Career Strikeouts
  - 1. Parker Dunshee 2014-17 330
  - 2. John Hendricks1996-99 312
  - 3. Mike MacDougal1997-99 288
  - 4. Buddy Jenkins 1987-91 277
  - 5. Kyle Sleeth 2001-03 271
  - 6. Frank Humber 1986-89 266
  - 7. Rhett Lowder 2021-Pres 250
  - Ross Atkins 1992-95 250
Lowder earned ACC and Perfect Game Pitcher of the Week honors after earning his fifth win of 2023 after tossing a near flawless seven innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while fanning nine batters and allowing just two Hurricanes to reach third base in Friday's 11-0 series-opening victory over No. 17 Miami. Lowder has now started the last two seasons 5-0 and is currently one of five players in the ACC with five victories.
Dating back to last season, Lowder has allowed three earned runs or less in 20 of his last 22 starts and has gone at least six innings in 15 starts.
The righthander won his fourth game of the season after fanning seven batters in seven strong innings in the first game of Saturday's twin bill against Notre Dame.
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 in Wake Forest's last home Friday contest. This marked the fifth career scoreless outing from the Wake Forest righthander.
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 on Friday, Feb. 24 . 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.
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).
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.

BENNY BARRELS

Pierce Bennett heads into midweek action on a team-best 19-game reached base streak as the redshirt junior has reached safely in every contest since Wake Forest's midweek game at Liberty on March 13.
Bennett has posted team-highs in average (.408), hits (29), RBIs (26), doubles (11), on-base percentage (.476) and slugging percentage (.690).
In its perfect Sunday against NC State, Bennett went 4-for-7 with two doubles, four RBIs and one walk to lead Wake Forest at the plate.

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 16th home run of the season on Friday night, Wilken is tied for sixth 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's 56 career home runs are the second-most long flies by a Demon Deacon ever. 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
Wilken has posted a .310 batting average with 40 hits, eight doubles, 48 RBIs, 35 walks, 47 runs scored (the most in the ACC) and a .744 slugging percentage.
The junior has reached base in 33 games and tallied a career-high 13 game hit streak this season. Additionally, Wilken has posted a team-high 17 multi-RBI games.
Wilken needs 40 more base knocks to join the 200-hit club.

SULLY MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT

Sean Sullivan has made an immediate impact in the Old Gold and Black, registering a 2.05 ERA in 44.0 innings to go along with 74 strikeouts, 10 earned runs and nine walks allowed. Additionally, opponents are batting just .156 against the lefthander. For his efforts to open the season, 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 strikeouts, strikeouts-per-nine innings, hits-per-nine innings, strikeout-to-walk ratio and WHIP, while ranking in the top 10 in ERA, walks-per-nine innings and victories.
Sullivan earned his fifth win of the season against NC State, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings out of Wake Forest's bullpen. The lefthander struck out out eight batters and allowed only two baserunners. Sullivan took over on the mound with one out and the bases loaded and proceeded to induce a pop up before fanning a batter to end the inning and keep the game knotted at three. Overall, Sullivan notched perfect 1-2-3 frames in three-consecutive innings.
Sullivan earned his fourth win of the season against Miami, tossing five innings with eight strikeouts while allowing just three hits and two walks. The sophomore struck out five of the first nine batters he faced and continued to get stronger as the game went on. With the game knotted at 1-1, Sullivan stranded two baserunners in the fourth and fifth frames with an inning-ending strikeout closing his start and helping keep the momentum in the Demon Deacons' favor.
Sullivan earned his third win of the 2023 season, tossing seven innings while striking out a career-high tying 11 strikeouts, his fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
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).

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.
Hawke ranks in the top 10 among conference competitors in doubles (second), on-base percentage (second), runs (fifth), hits (sixth) and walks (ninth).
Hawke held the second-longest reached base streak (45 games) in the nation snapped in Wake Forest's Saturday doubleheader at Duke.
Overall, Hawke has reached base safely in 85 of his career 94 appearances and is currently third among active Division I players in on-base percentage (.500) and fourth in average (.384).
In Wake Forest's 18-1 victory against Towson on Feb. 25 Hawke notched a career-high five hits.

HARTLE CONTINUES TO DEAL IN YEAR TWO

Josh Hartle has accumulated a 2.44 ERA through 51.2 innings to go along with 73 strikeouts, a new career high. The lefthander has allowed just 14 earned runs and has only walked nine batters.
Currently, Hartle is the ACC leader in walks-per-nine innings while ranking in the top 10 in strikeout-to-walk ratio, strikeouts-per-nine, ERA, wins and WHIP.
In his career, Hartle has allowed two earned runs or less in 15 of his 23 starts.
Hartle has struck out at least 10 batters in three of his four starts this season and has walked more than one batter in just two of his outings. In each of his first three appearances, Hartle either set or tied his previous career-high strikeout mark.
Against Miami, Hartle tallied nine strikeouts over 6.0 innings to earn his fifth win of the year. The sophomore from King, N.C. allowed six baserunners (four hits and two walks) in the contest, holding the Miami offense to just one run. In his final inning of work, Hartle recorded his eighth strikeout of the contest which set his career high in strikeouts for a season (55) before punching out the final batter of his outing.
Against Clemson, Hartle earned the sixth win of his sophomore season on Saturday, tossing a season-high tying seven innings of one run baseball. Hartle punched out eight batters while conceding just five hits and one walk. Hartle notched four-straight scoreless frames on the mound to end his start and keep Clemson's offense at bay. Hartle stranded a pair in scoring position with a strikeout and groundout in the fourth before tossing back-to-back 1-2-3 frames in the fifth and sixth innings as the lefthander retired eight-straight batters.
Against Cornell, Hartle posted the best outing of his career, fanning a career-high 12 batters in a career-high tying seven innings.
The Sunday prior, 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 became just the second pitcher in Wake Forest history to make 14 starts as a freshman in 2022 as well as the sixth Deac in program history to earn seven victories of the season (second most on the 2022 squad).

NICKY NUKES

After one of the greatest seasons by a Wake Forest freshman in school history, Nick Kurtz has impressed during the first half of his sophomore season.
Kurtz ranks in the top 10 of the ACC in slugging percentage, runs per game, RBIs per game, on-base percentage and home runs. In 22 games, the Lancaster, Pa. native has tallied eight multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games.
Currently, Kurtz ranks in the top 15 among Division 1 players in career on-base percentage (10th) and slugging percentage (15th).
In both of Wake Forest's wins against Notre Dame, Kurtz tallied a long fly to pace the Demon Deacon offense. In Wake Forest's 12-3 win, Kurtz went 3-4 with two RBIs, three runs scored and one walk.
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.
Kurtz registered the 100th hit of his career in the series finale at Louisville on Sunday.

CERTIFIED STOPPER CAMDEN MINACCI

A staple out of Wake Forest's bullpen the last two seasons, Camden Minacci earned the ninth save of his junior season after inducing the final three outs of Saturday's series-clinching victory versus Louisville. The career-best mark leads the ACC and is tied for third in the nation. Additionally, Minacci moved into the top 10 for saves in a single season by a Demon Deacon.
Over the course of his career, Minacci has registered 17 saves as the Tampa, Fla. native moved into a tie for the third-most saves by a Demon Deacon ever. Currently, Minacci is eighth among active players in Division I baseball in career saves.
- Most Saves by a Demon Deacon
- 1. Dave Bush 1999-02 38
- 2. Michael Dimock 2009-12 19
- 3. Camden Minacci 2021-pres. 17
- Keith Ksansnak 1983-86 17

ON DECK
Wake Forest travels to Pittsburgh, Pa. for its seventh ACC series of the season on Friday, April 21-Sunday, April 23.

The series opener is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday, April 21 on ACC Network Extra.

Game two will be Saturday, April 22 at 4 p.m. on ACC Network before the teams close out the series on Sunday, April 23 at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

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Players Mentioned

Pierce Bennett

Adam Cecere

Danny Corona

Lucas Costello

Gio Cueto

Josh Hartle

Tommy Hawke

Marek Houston

Justin Johnson

Kyle Joye

Chris Katz

Seth Keener

Nick Kurtz

Bennett Lee

Rhett Lowder

Reed Mascolo

Michael Massey

Teddy McGraw

Camden Minacci

Cole Roland

Sean Sullivan

Brock Wilken

Wake Forest Athletics