Kurtz Named ACC Player of the Week

4/24/2023 2:00:00 PM | Baseball

Nick Kurtz led Wake Forest's offensive eruption in game two, tallying nine RBIs, which is tied for second-most runs driven in by a Demon Deacon ever, with a three-run home run, two-RBI double and a pair of two-RBI singles. This marks his second weekly conference honor of the season.

By: Ryan Sosic

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Wake Forest sophomore first baseman Nick Kurtz was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the league Monday afternoon.

This marks the second time this season Kurtz has been named conference player of the week. Additionally, this is the seventh weekly accolade a Demon Deacon has received this year.

Wake Forest ACC Weekly Award Winners

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
April 24 (Week 10): Nick Kurtz

Kurtz led Wake Forest at the plate in its 3-1 week, posting team highs in batting average (.583), home runs (three), RBIs (13), walks (nine), runs scored (eight), slugging percentage (1.417) and on-base percentage (.762).

Kurtz opened his week with the go-ahead two-run home run in Wake Forest's 7-4 midweek victory versus Liberty. Kurtz also walked three times in the win.

The sophomore was vital in Wake Forest's seventh ACC series win of the season against Pitt, leading the team with a .600 average, two home runs, 11 RBIs, a 1.300 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage.

Kurtz led Wake Forest's offensive eruption in game two, tallying nine RBIs with a three-run home run, two-RBI double and a pair of two-RBI singles.

Kurtz's nine RBIs are tied for the second-most runs driven in by a Wake Forest batter ever, joining Chris Lanzilli (2019), Gavin Sheets (2017), Warren Sawkiw (1990) and Paul Reinisch (1989) as the only Deacs to drive in nine or more runs in a game.

Additionally, Kurtz and Justin Johnson broke a program record for most RBIs in a single game by a Demon Deacon duo with 17.

In the Saturday win, Wake Forest posted the second-highest scoring conference game in program history and its highest-scoring game since its 27-7 win at Georgia Tech on March 19, 2022.

Overall, this marked the 13th time in program history Wake Forest has scored at least 20 runs in an ACC game.

The 19-run victory is the third-largest margin of victory in an ACC game, trailing Wake Forest's 21-run win at Georgia Tech on April 16, 1999 and Wake Forest's 20-run victory at Georgia Tech last season.

In the series-clinching victory in the rubber match, Kurtz hit his second home run of the weekend and added an RBI-walk. Additionally, Kurtz scored four runs and walked two additional times.

Wake Forest faces four non-conference opponents this week, beginning with a matchup against nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina on Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at David F. Couch Ballpark on ACC Network.

The Deacs will then take on App State on Wednesday, April 26 at 6 p.m. in Shelby, N.C. inside Keeter Stadium.

Wake Forest closes its week with home games against Wofford and High Point on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30.

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