No. 1 Wake Forest Travels to Tallahassee for ACC Series With Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The top-ranked Wake Forest baseball team travels to Tallahassee for its ninth ACC series of the season, taking on Florida State on Friday, May 12-Sunday, May 14.

After its 14-4 midweek win against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday, this year's Deacs (40-7, 18-5 ACC) became the fastest team in program history and the first team in the nation this year to reach the 40-win mark. Wake Forest also has the least number of losses this season in Division I baseball.

Additionally, this marks the eighth 40-win season in program history. The 2023 Deacs are just the second team in program history to reach the mark in the regular season (2002).

Wake Forest is off to a 18-5 mark in conference play and is to be believed the only team in program history to win its first eight ACC series to open a season.

The Demon Deacons are +78 in run differential through the first eight series, outscoring opponents 155-77.

Friday's series opener between Wake Forest and Florida State is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch before the teams meet again at Dick Howser Stadium on Saturday at 3 p.m.

The series finale between the two conference foes is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

All three games can be streamed on ACC Network Extra. Additionally, Fans can also 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.

Deacs in the Polls

No. 1- D1Baseball
No. 1- USA Today Coaches Poll
No. 1- NCBWA
No. 1- Collegiate Baseball
No. 1- Perfect Game
No. 1- Baseball America

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
- ACC Player of the Week (April 24)
- 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 (May 8)
- 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 Deacs and Seminoles have faced off 129 times prior to this year's three-game series, with the first-ever meeting coming in 1962.
In Wake Forest's last trip to Dick Howser Stadium, the Deacs claimed the ACC series with back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday. After falling 2-1 in the series opener, the Deacs responded with a 8-7 win on Saturday before clinching the series with a 12-10 victory in the finale.

DEACS RANKED NO. 1 FOR FIRST TIME EVER

Wake Forest is the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation for the first time in program history after picking up its eighth ACC series victory over nationally-ranked Boston College this past weekend.
The Deacs are currently No. 2 in the RPI with a 13-3 mark against 1-25 RPI teams. Wake Forest's 13 quad one wins are the most in the nation.
The Demon Deacons' .851 winning percentage is the highest in the nation.
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.

FASTEST TO 40 WINS

After its 14-4 midweek win against UNC Greensboro, this year's squad became the fastest team in program history and the first team in the nation this year to reach the 40-win mark. Wake Forest also has the least number of losses this season in Division I baseball.
- Fastest to 40 Wins
  - 2023: 47 games
  - 2002: 49 games
  - 1999: 53 games
  - 2001: 55 games
  - 2022: 58 games
  - 2017: 58 games
  - 2000: 59 games
  - 1998: 61 games
Additionally, this marks the eighth 40-win season in program history. The 2023 Deacs are just the second team in program history to reach the mark in the regular season (2002).
- Wake Forest Baseball 40-Win Seasons
  - 2002 - 47 overall wins (42 regular season, five postseason)
  - 1999 - 47 overall wins (39 regular season, eight postseason)
  - 2001- 44 overall wins (37 regular season, seven postseason)
  - 2017 - 43 overall wins (38 regular season wins, five postseason)
  - 1998- 43 overall wins (36 regular season, seven postseason)
  - 2000 - 42 overall wins, (38 regular season, three postseason)
  - 2022 - 41 overall wins (39 regular season, two postseason)
  - 2023- 40 overall wins (40 regular season)

PITCHING STAFF AMONG BEST IN THE COUNTRY

Wake Forest's pitching staff continues to rank as one of the premier groups in the entire nation.
The Demon Deacon pitching staff leads the nation in hits-per-nine innings, strikeouts, strikeouts-per-nine innings, WHIP, strikeout-to-walk ratio and ERA, while ranking second nationally in walks-per-nine.

Category	National	ACC
ERA (2.55)	1	1
WHIP (1.03)	1	1
K-to-BB Ratio (4.47)	1	1
Hits-Per-Nine (6.55)	1	1
Ks-Per-Nine (12.0)	1	1
Strikeouts (550)	1	1
BBs-Per-Nine (2.69)	2	1

Wake Forest has fanned double-digit batters in 31 games this season and have held opponents to three runs or less in 30 games.

RAKE FOREST

The Deacs lead the ACC in walks, on-base percentage scoring and home runs. Additionally, Wake Forest ranks in the top four of every other offensive category among conference competitors.

Category	National	ACC
Walks (317)	3	1
Scoring (9.5)	5	1
On-Base % (.434)	6	1
HRs (94)	12	1
Runs (446)	6	2
Slugging % (.551)	10	2
Average (.307)	22	3
Hits (493)	33	3
Doubles (103)	40	4

13 Deacs have launched a long fly, headlined by Brock Wilken with 21, Nick Kurtz with 19, Justin Johnson with 12, Adam Cecere with nine, Pierce Bennett with six, Bennett Lee and Danny Corona with five, Tommy Hawke and Lucas Costello with four, Chris Katz with three, Kyle Joye, Marek Houston and Gio Cueto 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. Additionally, this is tied for the ninth-highest scoring mark in an inning in the nation.
Wake Forest posted its second-highest scoring inning of the season with nine runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 14-1 against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday evening.
Wake Forest has reached double-digit hits in 22 games while scoring at least 10 runs in 20 contests.

DEACS IN ACC PLAY

Wake Forest is off to a 18-5 mark in conference play and is to be believed the only team in program history to win its first eight ACC series to open a season.
The Demon Deacons are +78 in run differential through the first eight series, outscoring opponents 155-77.
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). 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.
Two weekends ago, Wake Forest won its fourth-straight series against Pitt, outscoring the Panthers, 40-5, in its two wins.
This past weekend, the Deacs claimed its third series over a top-25 opponent, taking two out of three from Boston College.

Team	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)
Pitt	+32 (40-8)
BC	+6 (19-13)
Overall	+78 (155-77)

In conference play, Wake Forest's 2.84 ERA is the lowest in the conference and is almost two full runs less than the next closest team. Additionally, the Demon Deacons have shut out three ACC opponents this season (Miami, Louisville and BC), the most in the conference.

OFFENSIVE ERUPTION IN PITT

In its 23-4 victory on Saturday at Pitt, the Deacs produced 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.
- 20 Runs or More in an ACC Game
  - at Pitt (April 22, 2023) - W, 23-4
  - at Boston College (April 2, 2022) - W, 20-8
  - at Georgia Tech (March 19, 2022) - W, 27-7
  - vs. Pitt (April 13, 2019) - W, 20-8
  - vs. Maryland (May 24, 2005) - W, 20-13*
  - vs. Maryland (April 23, 2004) - W, 21-16
  - at Maryland (April 27, 2001) - W, 20-3
  - at Georgia Tech (April 16, 1999) - W, 22-1
  - vs. Maryland (April 9, 1994) - W, 20-6
  - vs. Duke (April 5, 1988) - W, 21-4
  - at Georgia Tech (April 4, 1981) - L, 20-21
  - vs. Clemson (April 24, 1976) - W, 22-9
  - vs. Clemson (May 4, 1962) - W, 20-4
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.

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 during the 2023 season.
The trio has posted 24 wins with a combined ERA of 2.06 in 201 innings.. Lowder, Sullivan and Hartle have combined to strike out 279 batters while allowing just 46 earned runs and walking just 45 batters.
All three rank in top 10 among ACC foes in almost every pitching category:

	Lowder	Sullivan	Hartle
ERA	1st	4th	2nd
K-BB Ratio	4th	3rd	1st
Strikeouts	3rd	2nd	1st
Ks-Per-Nine	7th	1st	3rd
WHIP	2nd	1st	3rd
BBs-Per-Nine	3rd	N/A	2nd
Wins	1st	11th	2nd

In Wake Forest's latest ACC series win, the trio combined to allow just 15 hits and three earned runs in 20 innings while striking out 24 of 78 batters faced.
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: 80-14
  - Second Inning: 41-18
  - Third Inning: 60-14
  - Fourth Inning: 63-19
  - Fifth Inning: 72-24
  - Sixth Inning: 40-10
  - Seventh Inning: 39-14
  - Eighth Inning: 40-17
  - Ninth Inning: 11-16
  - Extra Innings: 0-2
Overall, the Deacs are outscoring opponents by a 446-148 mark.
Wake Forest has scored in the first inning in 29 games this season, posting a 26-3 record in those games. Additionally, the Deacs are 30-3 when they score first.
Wake Forest's +6.3 run differential per game leads the nation.
Much of Wake Forest's success has been fast starts as the Deacs have outscored opponents by a mark of 181-46 in the opening three innings.
Wake Forest has notched 19 innings with at least five runs this season.

DEACONS & THE ACC WEEKLY HONORS

Through the first 12 weeks of the season, four Demon Deacons have received eight 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
- April 24 (Week 10): Nick Kurtz
- May 8 (Week 12): Rhett Lowder

LOWDER DAY

Unanimous Preseason All-American and 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder has totaled a 1.68 ERA (lowest in ACC) through 75.2 innings to go along with 90 strikeouts, 58 hits, 16 walks and 14 earned runs conceded this season.
Lowder has blanked a nationally-ranked conference opponent three times this season (Miami, Louisville and BC). The Albemarle, N.C. native has been awarded ACC Pitcher of the Week after each of the performances.
In conference competition, Lowder is the ACC leader in ERA (1.95) and wins (6) while throwing the most innings (50.2).
Lowder and teammate Josh Hartle are the only pitchers in the ACC to rank in the top three in wins, strikeouts and ERA this year.
Dating back to last season, Lowder has allowed three earned runs or less in 27 of his last 28 starts and has gone at least six innings in 20 starts.
Currently, Lowder is one of four pitchers, and the only hurler in a power five conference, with a perfect 10-0 or better record this season.
Additionally, Lowder became just the fourth pitcher in Wake Forest history to post back-to-back double-digit win seasons. (Kyle Sleeth: 2001-02, John Hendricks: 1998-99 and Scott Siemon: 1999-2000).
- Wake Forest Single Season Wins
  - 1. Kyle Sleeth 2002 14
  - 2. Mike MacDougal1999 13
  - John Hendricks 1998 13
  - 4. Scott Siemon 1999 12
  - 5. Rhett Lowder 2022 11
  - Scott Siemon 2000 11
  - Moe Bauer 1950 11
  - 8. Rhett Lowder 2023 10
  - Parker Dunshee 2016 10
  - Kyle Sleeth 2001 10
  - John Hendricks 1999 10
  - Jeremy Ward 1998 10
  - Ross Atkins 1995 10
  - Mike Buddie 1992 10
  - Lefty Davis 1955 10
Over the course of his career, Lowder has won 25 games, which is tied for fifth in program history and second among active players in Division I baseball.
- 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. Rhett Lowder (2021-Pres.)-25
  - Scott Siemon (1998-01)- 25
  - Mike MacDougal (1997-99)- 25
Additionally, Lowder (273 career strikeouts) is in sole possession of the fifth-most strikeouts by a Demon Deacon ever. This mark is good for sixth among active pitchers in Division I baseball.
- 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. Rhett Lowder 2021-Pres 273
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.

CERTIFIED STOPPER CAMDEN MINACCI

A staple out of Wake Forest's bullpen the last two seasons, Camden Minacci earned the 10th save of his junior season after inducing the final three outs of Wake Forest's midweek victory against Liberty. The career-best mark leads the ACC and is eighth in the nation. Additionally, Minacci is now tied for the seventh-most saves in a single season by a Demon Deacon.
Over the course of his career, Minacci has registered 18 saves as the Tampa, Fla. native is in sole possession of the third-most saves by a Demon Deacon ever. Currently, Minacci is ninth 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. 18

WILKEN BECOMES WAKE FOREST HOME RUN KING

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 and ACC history this season.
Wilken made history against Coastal Carolina as the Valrico, Fla. native broke Wake Forest's career home run record with his 59th collegiate long fly in the third inning. Wilken broke a 20-year record set by Jamie D'Antona in 2003.
Wilken hit his 21st home run of the season and 61st HR of his career against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday. Wilken is currently seventh in the nation (first in the ACC) in long flies. Additionally, Wilken has hit the most career long flies among active players in Division I baseball.
Wilken is now chasing the ACC career home run record. The Valrico, Fla. native's solo shot in the third against the Spartans moved him into a tie for the third-most home runs in conference history.
- ACC Career Home Run Leaders
  - 1. Anthony Maisano, GaT/WF* (1986-90)- 69
  - J.D. Drew, Florida State (1995-97)- 69
  - 3. Brock Wilken, Wake Forest (2021-Pres)- 61
  - Pat Clougherty, NC State (1991-94)- 61
Additionally, the Tuesday night blast moved Wilken into a tie for the fourth-most home runs in a single season by a Demon Deacon (21).
Wilken has posted a .339 batting average with 57 hits, 12 doubles, 63 RBIs, 48 walks, 64 runs scored (the most in the ACC) and a .786 slugging percentage.
Wilken needs 23 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 2.56 ERA in 56.1 innings to go along with 91 strikeouts, 16 earned runs and 16 walks allowed. Additionally, opponents are batting just .170 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.
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.
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 on-base percentage (third), runs (third), walks (fifth), hits (seventh), doubles (eighth) and average (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 96 of his career 105 appearances and is currently fourth among active Division I players in on-base percentage (.502) and 10th in average (.380).

HARTLE CONTINUES TO DEAL IN YEAR TWO

Josh Hartle has accumulated a 2.09 ERA through 69.0 innings to go along with an ACC-leading 98 strikeouts, a new career high. The lefthander has allowed just 16 earned runs and has only walked 13 batters.
Currently, Hartle is the ACC leader in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk ratio while ranking in the top 10 in every other category.
Hartle has allowed two earned runs or less in 11 of his 12 starts this year.
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.
Hartle is just seven strikeouts away from entering the top 10 in single season strikeouts by a Demon Deacon.
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 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 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 his sophomore season.
Kurtz leads the ACC in home runs per game, runs per game, walks per game, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Currently, Kurtz ranks in the top 15 among Division 1 players in career slugging percentage (4th) and on-base percentage (9th).
Since returning to Wake Forest's lineup on April 16, Kurtz has posted a .385 average with 15 hits, nine HRs, 20 RBIs, 17 walks, 19 runs scored, a slugging percentage of 1.103 and on-base percentage of .579.
With 19 home runs this season, Kurtz is just one long fly away from being tied for the seventh-most home runs by a Demon Deacon in a single season ever.
Kurtz received his second ACC Player of the Week honor on April 24 for his performance during Wake Forest's 3-1 week, leading Wake Forest at the plate in with 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).
In Wake Forest's run-rule win over No. 5 Coastal Carolina, Kurtz launched a grand slam to extend the Demon Deacon lead to 9-1.
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.
On Saturday, April 22, Kurtz tallied 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.
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.

KEENER FINDiNG STRIDE IN JUNIOR SEASON

Seth Keener has posted a 6-0 record in 46. 1 innings this season as one of Wake Forest's most used relievers.
The Pilot Mountain, N.C. native has accumulated a 1.55 ERA to go along with 58 strikeouts and just eight earned runs allowed all season.

ON DECK
Wake Forest returns to the diamond in its final road game of the regular season on Tuesday, May 16 against UNC Wilmington.

The Deacs then take on Virginia Tech in its final ACC series of the season on Thursday, May 18-Saturday, May 20.

Follow The Deacs:

GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

No. 1 Wake Forest Travels to Tallahassee for ACC Series With Florida State

Next Event

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

Teddy McGraw

Camden Minacci

Sean Sullivan

Brock Wilken

Wake Forest Athletics

No. 1 Wake Forest Travels to Tallahassee for ACC Series With Florida State

Related News

Next Event

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

Teddy McGraw

Camden Minacci

Sean Sullivan

Brock Wilken

Related Videos