Friday, May 12
Tallahassee, FL
6:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
41-7, 19-5
10
at
0
Florida State
19-29, 6-19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Wake Forest
0
2
0
3
0
0
1
4
10
14
0
Florida State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
No. 1 Deacs Take Series Opener over Florida State with 10-0 Win
5/12/2023 11:18:00 PM | Baseball
Wake Forest’s 19 conference wins ties a program record, matching the 2017 team for most ACC victories in a season ever.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The top-ranked Wake Forest baseball team posted its fourth shutout in conference play, defeating Florida State, 10-0, in eight innings on Friday evening at Dick Howser Stadium to claim the first game of its ninth conference series of the year.
The 10-run win helped this year's Deacs (41-7, 19-5 ACC) tie the 2017 team for the most conference wins in a season (19).
After reaching the 40-win mark in the fewest amount of games in program history with its 14-4 win on Tuesday, this year's ballclub is just one win away from tying the program record for most regular season wins set in 2002 (42).
Overall, Wake Forest leads the nation in wins and winning percentage while leading the ACC in conference wins.
Rhett Lowder moved to 11-0 on the season as the righthander tossed seven scoreless frames with six strikeouts. Lowder allowed just four hits while walking no one, the second time this season Lowder did not walk a conference opponent.
Lowder retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced over his final five innings, highlighted by eight-straight Seminoles retired.
The Friday night performance marked the fourth time Lowder has blanked an ACC foe this season and the first time of his career Lowder has allowed zero earned runs in back-to-back ACC outings.
Roland continued the momentum on the mound, clinching the run-rule victory with a perfect 1-2-3 inning, highlighted by back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
Offensively, Wake Forest pushed across two runs in the second thanks to a sacrifice fly from Pierce Bennett and a RBI-double from Marek Houston.
A Danny Corona three-run home run in the fourth extended its lead to 5-0 before Wake Forest pushed across five combined runs in the seventh and eighth.
After Brock Wilken launched his 22nd home run of the year to left field to push Wake Forest's lead to six runs, Houston drove in his second run of the game with an RBI-single to left. A two-RBI single from Lucas Costello increased the Demon Deacon advantage to nine before Wilken continued his big day at the plate with an RBI-double to push the lead to double digits.
Overall, Wilken finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple and home run.
Houston, Costello, and Corona joined Wilken with multiple RBIs on Friday night.
How It Happened
Words from Walter
"Any win on the road is a good win. Rhett Lowder was spectacular tonight. He had to go to the stretch, as you noticed. He just couldn't get this footing there in the first inning. He just didn't feel as comfortable from the wind up. That's what great pitchers do. They make adjustments to the conditions and find a way to get outs. No walks. Six strikeouts. Four hits allowed. We could've run him back out there in the eighth, but it was a situation where he was coming off a long inning and we didn't feel like we needed to do that. I was really happy with the way Danny Corona swung the bat today. Justin Johnson and Marek Houston had a good day at the plate. We had some two-out RBIs late so we could save some of our bullpen, which is a good thing."
Standout Stats
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 with its 14-4 win against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday.
Wake Forest Fastest to 40 Wins
Wake Forest Baseball 40-Win Seasons
Best ACC Records in Program History
Wake Forest Scoring Summary by Inning (Wake Forest-Opponent)
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 31-3 when they score first.
Wake Forest's +6.3 run differential per game leads the nation.
In The Spotlight
Reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder earned his career-high tying 11th win of 2023 and the 26th victory of his career after tossing seven scoreless frames with six strikeouts. Lowder allowed just four hits while walking no one, the second time this season Lowder did not walk a conference opponent.
Lowder retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced over his final five innings, highlighted by eight-straight Seminoles retired in the fourth through sixth frames.
Lowder is one of two pitchers in the nation and the only pitcher in a power five conference with a perfect 11-0 record this season.
Additionally, Lowder became just the second pitcher in Wake Forest history to post back-to-back seasons with at least 11 wins. (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 2023 11
Rhett Lowder 2022 11
Scott Siemon 2000 11
Moe Bauer 1950 11
The Friday performance helped Lowder take sole possession of the fifth-most career wins by a Demon Deacon ever. Additionally, the righthander's 26 wins are the second-most victories among active pitchers 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.)- 26
6. Scott Siemon (1998-01)- 25
Mike MacDougal (1997-99)- 25
Additionally, with six strikeouts tonight, Lowder (279 career strikeouts) moved into fourth for the most career strikeouts by a Demon Deacon ever. This mark is good for fifth 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. Rhett Lowder 2021-Pres 279
5. Buddy Jenkins 1987-91 277
6. Kyle Sleeth 2001-03 271
7. Frank Humber 1986-89 266
8. Ross Atkins 1992-95 250
9. Dave Bush 1999-02 249
10. Tim Cooney 2010-12 235
Mike Buddie 1990-92 235
This season, the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year has accumulated a 1.52 ERA in 82.2 innings to go along with 96 strikeouts.
Dating back to last season, Lowder has allowed three earned runs or less in 28 of his last 30 starts and has gone at least six innings in 21 starts.
After breaking Wake Forest's career home run record on April 25th with his 60th long fly of his career, Brock Wilken is now chasing the ACC career home run record. The Valrico, Fla. native's solo shot in the seventh against the Seminoles moved him into sole possession of 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)- 62
4. Pat Clougherty, NC State (1991-94)- 61
Additionally, the Sunday night blast moved Wilken into fourth in Wake Forest history in single season home runs (22).
Wake Forest Single Season Home Runs
1. Brendan Tinsman 2022 24
Billy Masse 1988 24
3. Brock Wilken 2022 23
4. Brock Wilken 2023 22
On Deck
Wake Forest looks to claim its ninth ACC series of the season on Saturday, May 13 against Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium.
The game is slated for a 12 p.m. first pitch and can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The 10-run win helped this year's Deacs (41-7, 19-5 ACC) tie the 2017 team for the most conference wins in a season (19).
After reaching the 40-win mark in the fewest amount of games in program history with its 14-4 win on Tuesday, this year's ballclub is just one win away from tying the program record for most regular season wins set in 2002 (42).
Overall, Wake Forest leads the nation in wins and winning percentage while leading the ACC in conference wins.
Rhett Lowder moved to 11-0 on the season as the righthander tossed seven scoreless frames with six strikeouts. Lowder allowed just four hits while walking no one, the second time this season Lowder did not walk a conference opponent.
Lowder retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced over his final five innings, highlighted by eight-straight Seminoles retired.
The Friday night performance marked the fourth time Lowder has blanked an ACC foe this season and the first time of his career Lowder has allowed zero earned runs in back-to-back ACC outings.
Roland continued the momentum on the mound, clinching the run-rule victory with a perfect 1-2-3 inning, highlighted by back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
Offensively, Wake Forest pushed across two runs in the second thanks to a sacrifice fly from Pierce Bennett and a RBI-double from Marek Houston.
A Danny Corona three-run home run in the fourth extended its lead to 5-0 before Wake Forest pushed across five combined runs in the seventh and eighth.
After Brock Wilken launched his 22nd home run of the year to left field to push Wake Forest's lead to six runs, Houston drove in his second run of the game with an RBI-single to left. A two-RBI single from Lucas Costello increased the Demon Deacon advantage to nine before Wilken continued his big day at the plate with an RBI-double to push the lead to double digits.
Overall, Wilken finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple and home run.
Houston, Costello, and Corona joined Wilken with multiple RBIs on Friday night.
How It Happened
- After the Deacs were retired in order to open the game, Rhett Lowder tossed a scoreless inning of his own, stranding a runner on third with a groundout to Marek Houston at short.
- Wake Forest found the scoreboard first, pushing across two runs in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly from Pierce Bennett and an RBI-double from Marek Houston.
- Brock Wilken led off the frame with a triple to center field before Bennett drove in the junior for his 46th RBI of the season.
- Justin Johnson singled and moved into scoring position thanks to a walk to Danny Corona. Houston barely missed a home run, doubling off the right field fence to score Johnson.
- Lowder notched a shutdown inning in the bottom of the frame, working around a leadoff single by retiring the next three batters, highlighted by a strikeout for the second out of the inning.
- After Wake Forest was retired in order to open the third, Lowder returned the favor with two strikeouts and another groundout.
- Corona launched a three-run home run in the top of the fourth to extend Wake Forest's lead to 5-0 at the midway point of the fourth inning.
- Bennett (single) and Johnson (double) reached to open the frame before Corona's sixth HR of the season hooked past the right field foul pole.
- Lowder notched his second shutdown inning of the game, inducing a leadoff fly before Johnson made a diving play on a softly-hit ball in the infield to end the frame with a double play.
- Wake Forest put runners on the corners in the top of the fifth, but a groundout stranded the pair.
- Lucas Costello doubled to left field to open the inning before Wilken was hit by a pitch with one out. A pop up and groundout after a pitching change ended the scoring chance.
- Lowder once again retired the Seminoles in order in the bottom half of the frame, inducing two groundouts and a pop up.
- A Wilken solo shot over the left field wall increased Wake Forest's lead to 6-0 in the top of the seventh.
- This marked Wilken's 22nd long fly of the season as well as the 62nd HR of his career.
- Lowder continued to deal in the seventh, notching his third shutdown inning of the game. The righthander retired the opening batters of the frame with a fly out and strikeout before working around a two-out single with a fly out to Costello in left.
- The Deacs extended its advantage to double digits thanks to four runs in the top of the eighth inning.
- Houston got the scoring started with an RBI-single to left field after Johnson (walk) and Corona (single) reached base.
- Costello singled to left field, scoring Houston and Corona before Wilken doubled down the left field line to push Wake Forest's lead to 10-0.
- Cole Roland tossed a perfect 1-2-3 inning to secure the run-rule victory, inducing a groundout to open the inning before fanning the next two batters to end the game.
Words from Walter
"Any win on the road is a good win. Rhett Lowder was spectacular tonight. He had to go to the stretch, as you noticed. He just couldn't get this footing there in the first inning. He just didn't feel as comfortable from the wind up. That's what great pitchers do. They make adjustments to the conditions and find a way to get outs. No walks. Six strikeouts. Four hits allowed. We could've run him back out there in the eighth, but it was a situation where he was coming off a long inning and we didn't feel like we needed to do that. I was really happy with the way Danny Corona swung the bat today. Justin Johnson and Marek Houston had a good day at the plate. We had some two-out RBIs late so we could save some of our bullpen, which is a good thing."
Standout Stats
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 with its 14-4 win against UNC Greensboro on Tuesday.
Wake Forest 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
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)
- 2023- 41 overall wins (41 regular season)
- 2022 - 41 overall wins (39 regular season, two postseason)
Best ACC Records in Program History
- 2023: 19-5 (.792)
- 1963: 11-3 (.786)
- 1955: 11-3 (.786)
- 1979: 9-3 (.750)
- 2002: 17-6 (.739)
- 1999: 16-7 (.696)
- 1964: 16-7 (.696)
- 2001: 16-8 (.667)
- 1962: 10-5 (.667)
- 1959: 9-6 (.667)
- 1961: 9-5 (.643)
- 1957: 9-5 (.643)
- 2017: 19-11 (.633)*
- 2000: 14-10 (.588)
Wake Forest Scoring Summary by Inning (Wake Forest-Opponent)
- First Inning: 80-14
- Second Inning: 43-18
- Third Inning: 60-14
- Fourth Inning: 66-19
- Fifth Inning: 72-24
- Sixth Inning: 40-10
- Seventh Inning: 40-14
- Eighth Inning: 44-17
- Ninth Inning: 11-16
- Extra Innings: 0-2
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 31-3 when they score first.
Wake Forest's +6.3 run differential per game leads the nation.
In The Spotlight
Reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder earned his career-high tying 11th win of 2023 and the 26th victory of his career after tossing seven scoreless frames with six strikeouts. Lowder allowed just four hits while walking no one, the second time this season Lowder did not walk a conference opponent.
Lowder retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced over his final five innings, highlighted by eight-straight Seminoles retired in the fourth through sixth frames.
Lowder is one of two pitchers in the nation and the only pitcher in a power five conference with a perfect 11-0 record this season.
Additionally, Lowder became just the second pitcher in Wake Forest history to post back-to-back seasons with at least 11 wins. (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 2023 11
Rhett Lowder 2022 11
Scott Siemon 2000 11
Moe Bauer 1950 11
The Friday performance helped Lowder take sole possession of the fifth-most career wins by a Demon Deacon ever. Additionally, the righthander's 26 wins are the second-most victories among active pitchers 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.)- 26
6. Scott Siemon (1998-01)- 25
Mike MacDougal (1997-99)- 25
Additionally, with six strikeouts tonight, Lowder (279 career strikeouts) moved into fourth for the most career strikeouts by a Demon Deacon ever. This mark is good for fifth 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. Rhett Lowder 2021-Pres 279
5. Buddy Jenkins 1987-91 277
6. Kyle Sleeth 2001-03 271
7. Frank Humber 1986-89 266
8. Ross Atkins 1992-95 250
9. Dave Bush 1999-02 249
10. Tim Cooney 2010-12 235
Mike Buddie 1990-92 235
This season, the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year has accumulated a 1.52 ERA in 82.2 innings to go along with 96 strikeouts.
Dating back to last season, Lowder has allowed three earned runs or less in 28 of his last 30 starts and has gone at least six innings in 21 starts.
After breaking Wake Forest's career home run record on April 25th with his 60th long fly of his career, Brock Wilken is now chasing the ACC career home run record. The Valrico, Fla. native's solo shot in the seventh against the Seminoles moved him into sole possession of 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)- 62
4. Pat Clougherty, NC State (1991-94)- 61
Additionally, the Sunday night blast moved Wilken into fourth in Wake Forest history in single season home runs (22).
Wake Forest Single Season Home Runs
1. Brendan Tinsman 2022 24
Billy Masse 1988 24
3. Brock Wilken 2022 23
4. Brock Wilken 2023 22
On Deck
Wake Forest looks to claim its ninth ACC series of the season on Saturday, May 13 against Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium.
The game is slated for a 12 p.m. first pitch and can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lowder, Rhett (11-0)
L: Jackson Baumeister (4-5)
Batting:
2B: Costello, Lucas 1 ; Wilken, Brock 1 ; Johnson, Justin 1 ; Houston, Marek 1
3B: Wilken, Brock 1
HR: Wilken, Brock 1 ; Corona, Danny 1
RBI: Costello, Lucas 2 ; Wilken, Brock 2 ; Bennett, Pierce 1 ; Corona, Danny 3 ; Houston, Marek 2
SF: Bennett, Pierce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Costello, Lucas 1 ; Wilken, Brock 2 ; Bennett, Pierce 1 ; Johnson, Justin 3 ; Corona, Danny 2 ; Houston, Marek 1
SB: Lee, Bennett 1
HBP: Wilken, Brock 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
OF/INF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ BaseballINF/C
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