Lowder Named ACC Pitcher of the Year for Second-Straight Season
5/22/2023 2:02:00 PM | Baseball
The righthander became just the second pitcher in conference history to earn the honor in back-to-back years.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the second year in a row, Wake Forest baseball righthander Rhett Lowder was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, as announced by the league on Monday afternoon.
After becoming the first Demon Deacon ever to receive the award last season, Lowder is just the second pitcher in conference history to garner back-to-back Pitcher of the Year honors (Danny Hultzen, 2010-11).
Lowder finished the regular season as the conference's leader in ERA (1.73), wins (12), innings pitched (88.2) and strikeouts (108). In ACC play, Lowder also leads the conference in those same categories.
The Albemarle, N.C. native is the only pitcher in the nation with 12 wins and ranks in the top 15 nationally in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Lowder has blanked a conference opponent four times this season (Miami, Louisville, BC and Florida State). The Albemarle, N.C. native has been awarded ACC Pitcher of the Week three times after such performances.
Lowder's nation-leading 12 victories is tied for fourth in a single-season by a Wake Forest pitcher.
Additionally, the righthander is now tied for the most victories in a two-year period ever by a Demon Deacon hurler and became just the second pitcher in Wake Forest history to post back-to-back seasons with at least 11 wins. (Scott Siemon).
Over the course of his career, Lowder has tallied 27 victories, which is fifth in program history and tied for the most victories among active pitchers in Division I baseball.
Lowder (291 career strikeouts) moved into third for the most career strikeouts by a Demon Deacon ever. This mark is good for fourth among active pitchers in Division I baseball.
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 27 starts.
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.
Lowder Record Watch
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After becoming the first Demon Deacon ever to receive the award last season, Lowder is just the second pitcher in conference history to garner back-to-back Pitcher of the Year honors (Danny Hultzen, 2010-11).
Lowder finished the regular season as the conference's leader in ERA (1.73), wins (12), innings pitched (88.2) and strikeouts (108). In ACC play, Lowder also leads the conference in those same categories.
The Albemarle, N.C. native is the only pitcher in the nation with 12 wins and ranks in the top 15 nationally in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Lowder has blanked a conference opponent four times this season (Miami, Louisville, BC and Florida State). The Albemarle, N.C. native has been awarded ACC Pitcher of the Week three times after such performances.
Lowder's nation-leading 12 victories is tied for fourth in a single-season by a Wake Forest pitcher.
Additionally, the righthander is now tied for the most victories in a two-year period ever by a Demon Deacon hurler and became just the second pitcher in Wake Forest history to post back-to-back seasons with at least 11 wins. (Scott Siemon).
Over the course of his career, Lowder has tallied 27 victories, which is fifth in program history and tied for the most victories among active pitchers in Division I baseball.
Lowder (291 career strikeouts) moved into third for the most career strikeouts by a Demon Deacon ever. This mark is good for fourth among active pitchers in Division I baseball.
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 27 starts.
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.
Lowder Record Watch
- Wake Forest Single Season Wins
- 1. Kyle Sleeth 2002 14
- 2. Mike MacDougal1999 13
- John Hendricks 1998 13
- 4. Rhett Lowder 2023 12
- Scott Siemon 1999 12
- 5. Rhett Lowder 2022 11
- Scott Siemon 2000 11
- Moe Bauer 1950 11
- 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.)- 27
- 6. Scott Siemon (1998-01)- 25
- Mike MacDougal (1997-99)- 25
- Wake Forest Career Strikeouts
- 1. Parker Dunshee 2014-17 330
- 2. John Hendricks1996-99 312
- 3. Rhett Lowder 2021-Pres. 291
- 4. Mike MacDougal1997-99 288
- 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
- Feb. 18 vs. Illinois
- Lowder earned his first win of 2023 after striking 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).
- Lowder and Sean Sullivan combined to strike out 20 batters.
- Feb. 24 vs. Binghamton
- After walking the second batter of the game, reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder proceeded to retire the next 16 batters, including a series of three-up, three-down innings. 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.
- The junior from Albemarle, N.C. held a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before it was broken up by a line-drive single to left. He finished the contest with seven innings pitched, eight punchouts and just two base runners allowed.
- Lowder, Crawford Wade and Chase Walter tossed a combined one-hitter to propel the Demon Deacons to a shutout victory.
- March 3 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
- Lowder earned the third win of his junior season as the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year tossed seven scoreless frames while striking out eight Mastodon batters. This marks the fifth career scoreless outing from the Wake Forest righthander.
- March 10 vs. Duke
- Lowder made his fourth start of the season, tossing five innings and striking out six Blue Devil batters.
- The Albemarle, N.C. native ended his outing with back-to-back zeros in the fourth and fifth as Lowder allowed just one base runner and put the Demon Deacon offense in prime position to come from behind to claim the series opener.
- March 18 vs. Notre Dame
- Lowder opened his start by retiring six-straight Notre Dame batters before retiring the last six batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings. Overall, Lowder fanned seven batters and walked just one in seven innings.
- March 24 vs. Miami
- Lowder blanked the nationally-ranked Hurricanes, scattering three hits over 7.0 innings pitched. The Albemarle, N.C. native only let two Miami runners reach third and stranded four Cane runners on base.The righthander only allowed one extra base hit on the night and fanned nine Miami hitters.
- This marked the first time Miami was shutout and the first time they have been held scoreless since May 20, 2022. The Hurricanes came in ranked fifth in the nation in home runs and 33rd in runs scored.
- Lowder earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors for his performance.
- March 30 vs. Clemson
- 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.
- The righthander did not allow a baserunner to reach scoring position until the bottom of the sixth as Lowder opened his outing with five-straight scoreless frames.
- April 9 vs. NC State
- Lowder made his eighth start of the year pitching four complete innings and fanning four Wolfpack hitters.
- April 15 vs. Louisville
- Lowder moved to 7-0 on the season, blanking the Cardinals over seven 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.
- Lowder earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors for his performance.
- April 22 vs. Pitt
- Lowder continued to deal on the mound as the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year earned his eighth win of his junior season. Lowder is one of four pitchers in the nation and the only ACC hurler with a perfect 8-0 record this season.
- Lowder tossed 6.2 innings, striking out seven and allowing just three hits and two walks. The Albemarle, N.C. native retired 10 straight Panthers to open his start and allowed just one baserunner to reach scoring position.
- April 29 vs. Wofford
- Lowder moved to 9-0 this season after tossing six strong innings and recording seven punchouts in his 11th start of 2023. Lowder started strong, facing the minimum through the first three frames.
- May 5 vs. Boston College
- Lowder moved to 10-0 on the season after throwing seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts while conceding just five hits and one walk.
- Lowder and Michael Massey combined to register Wake Forest's third shutout in ACC play (seventh overall) as the duo fanned 13 while walking just two batters.
- Lowder earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors for his performance.
- May 12 vs. Florida State
- 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.
- May 18 vs. Virginia Tech
- Lowder put together a remarkable performance, striking out a career-high 12 batters for his career-best and nation-leading 12th win of the season.
- The first seven outs of Lowder's 14th start came via the strikeout. The righthander struck out the side in the first and tallied multiple strikeouts in four of his six frames.
- 2023 ACC Pitcher of the Year
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (May 8)
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (April 17)
- 2023 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
- 2023 ACC Pitcher of the Week (March 27)
- 2023 Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week (March 27)
- 2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
- 2023 Perfect Game First Team Preseason All-American
- 2023 Collegiate Baseball First Team Preseason All-American
- 2023 Baseball America First Team Preseason All-American
- 2023 D1Baseball First Team Preseason All-American
- 2023 NCBWA First Team Preseason All-American
- 2023 D1Baseball Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year
- 2023 Perfect Game Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year
- 2023 Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC
- 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year (First ever in program history)
- 2022 Unanimous All-American (Third in program history)
- 2022 ABCA First Team All-American
- 2022 Baseball America First Team All-American
- 2022 D1Baseball Second Team All-American
- 2022 Perfect Game Second Team All-American
- 2022 Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American
- 2022 NCBWA Third Team All-American
- 2022 ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region
- 2022 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Member
- 2022 First Team All-ACC
- 2022 Pitcher of the Year Finalist (First ever in program history)
- 2022 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (May 23, 2022)
- Perfect Game Pitcher of the Week (May 23, 2022)
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