Friday, February 16
Winston-Salem, NC
5 p.m.
Wake Forest University
1-0
9
vs
3
Fordham
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Fordham
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
6
4
Wake Forest
1
3
0
0
4
0
0
1
0
9
5
2
Photo by: Seth Seebaugh
Record Crowd Witnesses 9-3 Opening Night Victory Over Fordham
2/16/2024 9:39:00 PM | Baseball
Behind great pitching and timely offense, the No. 1 Demon Deacons captured their first victory with a resounding win over Fordham on Opening Night at David F. Couch Ballpark.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In front of a regular season record-breaking crowd of 3,514 at David F. Couch Ballpark, the No. 1 Wake Forest baseball team cruised to an Opening Night victory over Fordham, 9-3, Friday night.
In the top of the order, graduate transfer infielder Adam Tellier made his presence felt early and often as he set the table for the Demon Deacon offense. Tellier sent the first pitch he saw over the left center wall.
This marks the second time in the last three games at the Couch that the leadoff hitter for the Deacs took the opening pitch yard. In the Super Regional opener against No. 16 Alabama, Tommy Hawke knocked the first pitch over the wall to set the tone in Wake Forest's 5-4 victory.
Tellier reached base a team-high four times including a pair of base hits and a pair of walks.
Juniors Jake Reinisch and Tate Ballestero also came up with timely hits later in the game, scoring a pair and netting two RBIs to their statline.
After Fordham scored the first run of the game, Wake Forest had grabbed control by the end of the second inning and never looked back.
In his first start of the season, Josh Hartle helped extinguish the Rams offense the rest of the night. Claiming his first win of the season, Hartle had a strong 5.2 outing with four strikeouts while allowing just three hits and one earned run.
It was the 19th win of his Wake Forest career which puts him three away from entering the top 10 in program history. Also his four strikeouts put him at 198 for his career, moving him within 37 strikeouts of the Wake Forest top 10.
Combining in relief, Will Ray and Blake Morningstar shut the door, allowing just two earned runs on three hits in 3.1 winnings with five combined strikeouts.
Morningstar made his collegiate debut along with fellow freshman Javar Williams, who scored a run as a pinch runner and finished the game in left field.
This marked the 10th consecutive season opening win and Wake Forest has scored nine or more runs in the last three season-opening wins.
HOW IT HAPPENED
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Top-10 Regular Season David F. Couch Ballpark Crowds
STAGGERING STATISTICS
Over the past three seasons, the Deacs are 19-0 in the opening month of play, going 10-0 in 2023 and 8-0 in 2022. During that stretch, Wake Forest has outscored their opponents by a 246 to 51 margin (10.5 runs per game). Wake Forest has won 10-straight season openers dating back to the 2015 season.
FROM COACH WALTER
"First off, that was a great crowd tonight. I was really happy with that kind of showing on Opening Day. We haven't had that before. I'm also really happy with the way Josh Hartle pitched today. He kept battling and ran into some adversity when our watches weren't working. He also had a couple things go against him in the first inning. Then our defense let him down a little bit there during the one inning where he loaded the bases but we got the big pop up and strikeout after that. I was happy with both of our bullpen guys. I was really impressed with Will Ray and Blake Morningstar. He did let up a walk and the home run, but then he got a six outs. With a short bullpen, we've only had six of our better bullpen arms. Most of them will be back in two to three weeks and then Cole Roland is going to be a little longer than that. Our bullpen will look a whole lot different here in two or three weeks than it does right now. I was really happy with Will Ray and Blake Morningstar today.
Offensively, we didn't have a very good day to day. I was really disappointed in our bats. We talked about stacking quality at-bats all the time and we only did that on two different occasions today. Obviously, Jake Reinisch put the big double down the line and Tate Ballestero right behind him. The difference in the game was really Reinisch's at-bat. They had grabbed some momentum on the plate appearance before and Jake doubled and turned the game the other direction, then Tate right in behind him. The other time was in the last inning where Tellier walked then Marek Houston singled behind him to right field. Other than that, we didn't stack any bats together today. But I'm very happy with that and Tellier's offensive performance today, but tomorrow we're going to need to play better and have a better day offensively." - head coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
The Deacs are back at David F. Couch Ballpark against Illinois on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon. For fans not in attendance at The Couch on Saturday, the game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
In the top of the order, graduate transfer infielder Adam Tellier made his presence felt early and often as he set the table for the Demon Deacon offense. Tellier sent the first pitch he saw over the left center wall.
This marks the second time in the last three games at the Couch that the leadoff hitter for the Deacs took the opening pitch yard. In the Super Regional opener against No. 16 Alabama, Tommy Hawke knocked the first pitch over the wall to set the tone in Wake Forest's 5-4 victory.
Tellier reached base a team-high four times including a pair of base hits and a pair of walks.
Juniors Jake Reinisch and Tate Ballestero also came up with timely hits later in the game, scoring a pair and netting two RBIs to their statline.
After Fordham scored the first run of the game, Wake Forest had grabbed control by the end of the second inning and never looked back.
In his first start of the season, Josh Hartle helped extinguish the Rams offense the rest of the night. Claiming his first win of the season, Hartle had a strong 5.2 outing with four strikeouts while allowing just three hits and one earned run.
It was the 19th win of his Wake Forest career which puts him three away from entering the top 10 in program history. Also his four strikeouts put him at 198 for his career, moving him within 37 strikeouts of the Wake Forest top 10.
Combining in relief, Will Ray and Blake Morningstar shut the door, allowing just two earned runs on three hits in 3.1 winnings with five combined strikeouts.
Morningstar made his collegiate debut along with fellow freshman Javar Williams, who scored a run as a pinch runner and finished the game in left field.
This marked the 10th consecutive season opening win and Wake Forest has scored nine or more runs in the last three season-opening wins.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the first inning, Wake Forest wasted no time tying up the game. On the first pitch of the home half, graduate transfer infielder Adam Tellier took the first pitch he saw and blasted it over the left center wall to tie the game.
- This marks the second time in the last three games at the Couch that the leadoff hitter for the Deacs took the opening pitch yard. In the Super Regional opener against No. 16 Alabama, Tommy Hawke knocked the first pitch over the wall to set the tone in Wake Forest's 5-4 victory.
- Wake Forest never trailed from that point in the game as junior left hander Josh Hartle settled in on the mound. Of his next four innings, Hartle set down the side in order with the only inning that a Fordham runner reached base came via a fielder's choice or error during the third inning.
- On the offensive side for the Deacs, Wake Forest took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning.
- With runners on first and second with two outs, Austin Hawke sent a fly ball to center field. The fly ball kicked off the Fordham player's glove, scoring Jake Reinisch from second.
- Chris Katz was also waved home and scored on an errant throw home from the outfield.
- Advancing to third on the throw home, the throw to try to get Hawke at third went off the third baseman's glove going into left field. Hawke raced home on the throw, plating three runs for the Deacs as three errors were charged to the Rams on the single play.
- Wake Forest took the 4-1 lead into the third, never relinquishing the lead for the rest of the game.
- With runners on first and second with two outs, Austin Hawke sent a fly ball to center field. The fly ball kicked off the Fordham player's glove, scoring Jake Reinisch from second.
- Behind a 5.2 lights out performance from Hartle that included four strikeout while just giving up three hits and one earned run, Wake Forest continued to roll through the season opener in control of the game.
- After Will Ray came in in relief to get the final out of the fifth, the Wake Forest bats heated up in the bottom half of the inning.
- Tellier set the table with a leadoff walk, Marek Houston reached on a fielder's choice and Nick Kurtz reached base on a walk to load the bases with no outs.
- After a force out at home, Reinisch stepped to the plate with the bases still loaded. He roped the 1-0 pitch down the right field line bounding off the wall.
- The double scored two and advanced Seaver King to third.
- Tate Ballestero made his presence felt on the next pitch as a liner through the right side scored King and Reinisch, giving Wake Forest a commanding 8-1 lead.
- After a scoreless 1.1 innings from Ray that included a strikeout and just five batters faced, the Demon Deacons turned the ball over to Blake Morningstar for his collegiate debut in the top of the eighth.
- The freshman fanned all three batters in the inning, preserving the large Wake Forest lead.
- Jack Winnay reached base with a walk with one out and was replaced by Javar Williams as a pinch runner on first as the freshman outfielder made his collegiate debut.
- Two batters later Tellier yet again reached base with a walk, putting two on with two outs for Houston.
- The sophomore shortstop singled through the right side, scoring Williams from second and advancing Tellier to third.
- With a 9-3 lead, Morningstar shut the door in the ninth.
- After a leadoff single, Morningstar induced a ground ball to get a double play.
- He closed the game with his fourth strikeout of the night, fanning the final Fordham batter swinging on a 3-2 pitch.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- After a season record-setting attendance during the 2023 season, Deacon Nation set the tone in the season opener on Friday night against opener, setting a new regular-season record with 3,514 Wake Forest fans coming out to support the Deacs. It shattered the previous record of 3,023 in last year's game against Virginia Tech:
Top-10 Regular Season David F. Couch Ballpark Crowds
| Rank | Attendance | Date | Opponent |
| 1. | 3.514 | Feb. 16, 2024 | Fordham |
| 2. | 3,023 | May 19, 2023 | Virginia Tech |
| 3. | 2,750 | March 29, 2002 | Florida State |
| 4. | 2,568 | May 20, 2023 | Virginia Tech |
| 5. | 2,519 | April 7, 2003 | North Carolina |
| 6. | 2,505 | May 18, 2023 | Virginia Tech |
| 7. | 2,477 | April 12, 2023 | NC State |
| 8. | 2,458 | April 23, 2016 | North Carolina |
| 9. | 2,374 | April 13, 2003 | NC State |
| 10. | 2,361 | April 25, 2023 | Coastal Carolina |
- In the leadoff spot, Adam Tellier made his presence felt with the first Wake Forest home run of the season coming on the opening pitch of the game. He finished his night reaching base four times, having two hits and two walks to lead the Deacs in both categories.
- On the mound, Josh Hartle shoved in his first outing of the season to claim his 19th victory of his Wake Forest career, putting him three wins away from entering the top 10 in program history. Also his four strikeouts put him at 198 for his career, moving him within 37 strikeouts of the Wake Forest top 10.
STAGGERING STATISTICS
Over the past three seasons, the Deacs are 19-0 in the opening month of play, going 10-0 in 2023 and 8-0 in 2022. During that stretch, Wake Forest has outscored their opponents by a 246 to 51 margin (10.5 runs per game). Wake Forest has won 10-straight season openers dating back to the 2015 season.
FROM COACH WALTER
"First off, that was a great crowd tonight. I was really happy with that kind of showing on Opening Day. We haven't had that before. I'm also really happy with the way Josh Hartle pitched today. He kept battling and ran into some adversity when our watches weren't working. He also had a couple things go against him in the first inning. Then our defense let him down a little bit there during the one inning where he loaded the bases but we got the big pop up and strikeout after that. I was happy with both of our bullpen guys. I was really impressed with Will Ray and Blake Morningstar. He did let up a walk and the home run, but then he got a six outs. With a short bullpen, we've only had six of our better bullpen arms. Most of them will be back in two to three weeks and then Cole Roland is going to be a little longer than that. Our bullpen will look a whole lot different here in two or three weeks than it does right now. I was really happy with Will Ray and Blake Morningstar today.
Offensively, we didn't have a very good day to day. I was really disappointed in our bats. We talked about stacking quality at-bats all the time and we only did that on two different occasions today. Obviously, Jake Reinisch put the big double down the line and Tate Ballestero right behind him. The difference in the game was really Reinisch's at-bat. They had grabbed some momentum on the plate appearance before and Jake doubled and turned the game the other direction, then Tate right in behind him. The other time was in the last inning where Tellier walked then Marek Houston singled behind him to right field. Other than that, we didn't stack any bats together today. But I'm very happy with that and Tellier's offensive performance today, but tomorrow we're going to need to play better and have a better day offensively." - head coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
The Deacs are back at David F. Couch Ballpark against Illinois on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon. For fans not in attendance at The Couch on Saturday, the game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hartle, Josh (1-0)
L: LAVELLE, Declan (0-1)
Batting:
2B: GENARO, Chris 1
HR: LUTTAZI, Steve 1
RBI: McANDREWS, Tommy 1 ; LUTTAZI, Steve 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BUCCIERO, Daniel 1 ; BRUESER, Michael 1 ; LUTTAZI, Steve 1
SB: BUCCIERO, Daniel 1
Batting:
2B: Reinisch, Jake 1
HR: Tellier, Adam 1
RBI: Tellier, Adam 1 ; Houston, Marek 1 ; Reinisch, Jake 2 ; Ballestero, Tate 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Tellier, Adam 1 ; Houston, Marek 1 ; Kurtz, Nick 1 ; King, Seaver 1 ; Reinisch, Jake 2 ; Katz, Chris 1 ; Williams, Javar 1 ; Hawke, Austin 1
SB: Ballestero, Tate 1 ; Winnay, Jack 1
PO: Tellier, Adam 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C/OF
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LHP
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INF
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OF/INF
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INF
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C
/ Baseball
UTL
/ Baseball
OF/INF
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RHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
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RHP
/ BaseballINF
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OF
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INF
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Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
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