No. 2 Wake Forest Welcomes No. 17 Boston College for Eighth Conference Series

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 2 Wake Forest baseball team hosts No. 17 Boston College in its eighth ACC series of the season on May 5-7 inside David F. Couch Ballpark.

The Demon Deacons (37-6, 16-4 ACC) head into the weekend on a five-game winning streak and rank No. 1 in the RPI.

Over the winning streak (41 innings), Wake Forest has outscored opponents by a margin of 84-11.

The Demon Deacons' .860 winning percentage is the best in the nation. Additionally, Wake Forest's 37 victories are tied for the most in the nation, while having the least number of losses this season in Division I baseball.

Wake Forest is off to a 16-4 mark in conference play and is to be believed the only team in program history to win its first seven ACC series to open a season.

The Demon Deacons are +72 in run differential through the first seven series, outscoring opponents 136-64.

The series opener is slated for 8 p.m. on ACC Network. Game two is slated for a 4 p.m. start before the teams finish off the series at 1 p.m.

The final two games of the series will be live on ACC Network Extra.

On Saturday, Wake Forest will don lavender jerseys when they hit the diamond in support of epilepsy awareness. Earlier this season, the Demon Deacons hosted an Epilepsy Awareness Game and raised over $17,000 to benefit the Epilepsy Alliance of NC.

With your support, together we raised over $17,000 for the Epilepsy Alliance of North Carolina 💜@EpilepsyNC ✘ #ProHumanitate pic.twitter.com/AV2q1rBXe1
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 12, 2023

Fans can tune into an audio streaming broadcast through the Wake Forest Athletics app for all three games.

Stay tuned to the Demon Deacons social media accounts (@WakeBaseball) for all in-game updates and information.

TICKET/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

Friday
- Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
  - $5 Fiesta Food Menu
  - Final jersey koozies giveaway
Saturday
- R&D Day
  - 100 Deacon Brew T-shirts and other swag
  - $5 select beer
Sunday
- Pups in the Park
  - 250 dog bowls
  - 250 bandanas
  - Pack 5 Trading Card Giveaway

Deacs in the Polls

No. 2- D1Baseball
No. 2- USA Today Coaches Poll
No. 2- NCBWA
No. 2- Collegiate Baseball
No. 2- Perfect Game
No. 2- 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 (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 lead the all-time series with the Eagles by a 26-19 mark.
Last season, Wake Forest won the conference series in Chestnut Hill, Mass. as the Deacs won game one and game two of the series by a margin of 35-18.

WAKE FOREST RECORD LEADS NATION & ACC

The Demon Deacons' .860 winning percentage is the best in the nation. Additionally, Wake Forest's 37 victories are tied for the most in the nation, while having the least number of losses this season in Division I baseball.
The Demon Deacons head into the weekend No. 1 in the RPI.
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.
The Deacs have the chance to become the fastest team in program history to reach the 40-win mark.
- Fastest to 40 Wins
  - 2023: 43 games (37-6)
  - 2002: 49 games
  - 1999: 53 games
  - 2001: 55 games
  - 2022: 58 games
  - 2017: 58 games
  - 2000: 59 games
  - 1998: 61 games

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 hits-per-nine innings, 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
ERA (2.40)	1	1
WHIP (1.00)	1	1
K-to-BB Ratio (4.79)	1	1
Hits-Per-Nine (6.46)	1	1
Ks-Per-Nine (12.1)	1	1
Strikeouts (503)	2	1
BBs-Per-Nine (2.52)	2	1

Wake Forest has fanned double-digit batters in 28 games this season and have held opponents to three runs or less in 28 games.
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 (19.2 IP): .118
- Seth Keener (43.2 IP): .158
- Michael Massey (26.0 IP): .161
- Sean Sullivan (50.1 IP): .168
- Rhett Lowder (68.2 IP): .215
- Josh Hartle (62.0 IP): .222
- Camden Minacci (19.0 IP): .227
- Reed Mascolo (40.2 IP): .248

RAKE FOREST

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

Category	National	ACC
Walks (300)	2	1
On-Base % (.438)	5	1
Scoring (9.6)	5	1
Runs (380)	8	2
HRs (83)	11	2
Slugging % (.548)	11	2
Average (.308)	23	3
Doubles (97)	31	4
Hits (453)	41	5

13 Deacs have launched a long fly, headlined by Brock Wilken with 20, Nick Kurtz with 14, Justin Johnson with 11, Adam Cecere with nine, Pierce Bennett with six, Bennett Lee with five, Chris Katz, Tommy Hawke , Lucas Costello and Danny Corona 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 has reached double-digit hits in 21 games while scoring at least 10 runs in 20 contests.

DEACS IN ACC PLAY

Wake Forest is off to a 16-4 mark in conference play and is to be believed the only team in program history to win its first seven ACC series to open a season.
The Demon Deacons are +72 in run differential through the first seven series, outscoring opponents 136-64.
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.

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)
Overall	+72 (136-64)

In conference play, Wake Forest's 2.66 ERA is the lowest in the conference and is almost two 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.

PROTECT THE COUCH

Over the last two seasons, Wake Forest has compiled a 50-8-1 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, 566-189, at The Couch since last year.
Wake Forest heads into the weekend on a 10-game winning streak inside The Couch.

DOMINANT FIVE-GAME WIN STREAK

After suffering its first Friday loss of the season against Pitt on April 21, Wake Forest has won its last five games.
Over the winning streak (41 innings), Wake Forest has outscored opponents by a margin of 84-11.
The Deacs have hit 16 homers and have allowed just 27 hits with 11.8 strikeouts per game on the mound during that stretch.

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.
Through the first seven weekends, the trio has posted 22 wins with a combined ERA of 2.14 in 181 innings.. Lowder, Sullivan and Hartle have combined to strike out 255 batters while allowing just 43 earned runs and walking just 40 batters.
All three rank in top 10 among ACC foes in almost every pitching category:

	Lowder	Sullivan	Hartle
ERA	2nd	5th	3rd
K-BB Ratio	5th	2nd	1st
Strikeouts	3rd	2nd	1st
Ks-Per-Nine	9th	1st	3rd
WHIP	3rd	2nd	4th
BBs-Per-Nine	4th	6th	2nd
Wins	1st	10th	3rd

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: 76-13
  - Second Inning: 40-16
  - Third Inning: 56-13
  - Fourth Inning: 53-19
  - Fifth Inning: 71-23
  - Sixth Inning: 35-10
  - Seventh Inning: 37-9
  - Eighth Inning: 34-16
  - Ninth Inning: 11-12
Overall, the Deacs are outscoring opponents by a 413-131 mark.
Wake Forest has scored in the first inning in 26 games this season, posting a 23-3 record in those games. Additionally, the Deacs are 27-3 when they score first.
Wake Forest's +6.6 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 172-42 in the opening three innings.
Wake Forest has notched 17 innings with at least five runs this season.

DEACONS & THE ACC WEEKLY HONORS

Through the first 10 weeks of the season, four Demon Deacons have received seven 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

LOWDER DAY

Unanimous Preseason All-American and 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder has totaled a 1.83 ERA through 68.2 innings to go along with 81 strikeouts, 53 hits, 15 walks and 14 earned runs conceded this season.
Heading into his 12th start this weekend, Lowder holds the lowest ERA among starting pitchers in the ACC. Additionally, Lowder is one of five pitchers in the nation with a 9-0 record (only pitcher in a power five conference).
Over the course of his career, Lowder has won 24 games, which is tied for seventh in program history and is third 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. Scott Siemon (1998-01)- 25
  - Mike MacDougal (1997-99)- 25
  - 7. Rhett Lowder (2021-Pres.)- 24
  - Marc Palmieri (1990-93)- 24
  - 8. Eric Schmitt (1997-00)- 23
  - 9. Warren Newton (1978-81)-22
  - Moe Bauer (1947-50)- 22
With seven Ks against Wofford, Lowder is now two Ks away from moving into a tie for sixth with Frank Humber in career strikeouts. Additionally, Lowder's 264 Ks rank eighth among active players 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. Kyle Sleeth 2001-03 271
  - 6. Frank Humber 1986-89 266
  - 7. Rhett Lowder 2021-Pres 264
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.
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.

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 tied for second 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 seventh 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.
Brock 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 20th home run of the season and 60th HR of his career against High Point on Sunday. 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 fifth on Sunday moved him into sole possession of the fourth-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. Pat Clougherty, NC State (1991-94)- 61
  - 4. Brock Wilken, Wake Forest (2021-Pres)- 60
Additionally, the Sunday night blast moved Wilken into a tie for the seventh-most home runs in a single season by a Demon Deacon (20).
Wilken has posted a .335 batting average with 52 hits, 10 doubles, 60 RBIs, 43 walks, 59 runs scored (the most in the ACC) and a .787 slugging percentage (highest in the ACC).
Wilken needs 28 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 2.50 ERA in 50.1 innings to go along with 84 strikeouts, 14 earned runs and 13 walks allowed. Additionally, opponents are batting just .168 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 (second), runs (fourth), walks (fourth), average (seventh), hits (eighth) and doubles (eighth).
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 92 of his career 101 appearances and is currently fourth among active Division I players in on-base percentage (.504) and eighth in average (.380).

HARTLE CONTINUES TO DEAL IN YEAR TWO

Josh Hartle has accumulated a 2.18 ERA through 62.0 innings to go along with an ACC-leading 90 strikeouts, a new career high. The lefthander has allowed just 15 earned runs and has only walked 12 batters.
Currently, Hartle is the ACC leader in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk ratio while ranking in the top 10 in every other category.
In his career, Hartle has allowed two earned runs or less in 17 of his 25 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 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 the first half of his sophomore season.
Kurtz leads the ACC in walks per game and on-base percentage while ranking in the top 10 in walks, average, home runs, RBIs per game and home runs per game.
Currently, Kurtz ranks in the top 15 among Division 1 players in career on-base percentage (7th) and slugging percentage (8th).
Since returning to Wake Forest's lineup on April 16, Kurtz has posted a .450 average with nine hits, four HRs, 17 RBIs, 11 walks, slugging percentage of 1.100 and on-base percentage of .645.
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.

BENNY BARRELS

Pierce Bennett heads into weekend action on a team-best 26-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 (40), RBIs (32), doubles (12) while adding three home runs as well as a .653 slugging percentage and .491 on-base percentage.

KEENER FINDING STRIDE IN JUNIOR SEASON

Seth Keener has posted a 6-0 record in 43. 2 innings this season as one of Wake Forest's most used relievers.
The Pilot Mountain, N.C. native has accumulated a .82 ERA, the lowest in the nation, to go along with 56 strikeouts and just four earned runs allowed all season. • Keener's WHIP of .76 leads the ACC and is just .1 lower than the lowest mark in the nation. Additionally, Keener leads the ACC in hits allowed per nine innings (4.95).
Over his last 10 appearances (nine relief and one start) Keener has allowed just two runs while striking out 35 batters in 27.2 innings.
Keener also ranks in the top-10 in the ACC in strikeout-to-walk ratio, strikeouts per nine innings, wins and walks allowed per nine innings.

ON DECK
Wake Forest returns to the diamond on Tuesday, May 9 in its final home midweek game of the season against UNC Greensboro.

First pitch at The Couch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and can be seen on ACC Network Extra.

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No. 2 Wake Forest Welcomes No. 17 Boston College for Eighth Conference Series

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Players Mentioned

Pierce Bennett

Adam Cecere

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Lucas Costello

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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

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Wake Forest Athletics

No. 2 Wake Forest Welcomes No. 17 Boston College for Eighth Conference Series

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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

Reed Mascolo

Michael Massey

Teddy McGraw

Camden Minacci

Cole Roland

Sean Sullivan

Brock Wilken

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