Sunday, May 12
Winston-Salem, NC
12 p.m.
Wake Forest University
36-16, 15-12
13
vs
3
Clemson
37-13, 17-10
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Clemson
0
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5
1
Wake Forest
0
4
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3
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13
12
0
Photo by: Seth Seebaugh
No. 12 Deacs Sweep the Weekend Against No. 2 Clemson
5/12/2024 4:44:00 PM | Baseball
Behind a five home run performance and strong pitching, the No. 12 Wake Forest baseball team completed the weekend sweep of No. 2 Clemson Sunday afternoon, defeating the Tigers 13-3 in run-rule fashion.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind a five home run performance and strong pitching, the No. 12 Wake Forest baseball team completed the weekend sweep of No. 2 Clemson Sunday afternoon at David F. Couch Ballpark, defeating the Tigers 13-3 in run-rule fashion.
With the victory, the Demon Deacons (36-16, 15-12 ACC) earned their second ACC sweep of the season and extended their winning streak to a season-best nine games. It also marked the first time this season the nationally-ranked Tigers (37-13, 17-10 ACC) have been swept and extended the Wake Forest winning streak over Clemson to seven games dating back to the 2022 season. Additionally, 12 runs over the weekend are the fewest Clemson has scored in a series.
This also is the second-consecutive ACC home series where the Deacs have defeated a top-10 team, taking the series against then No. 8 Florida State in late April.
On the mound, junior Josh Hartle earned his second-consecutive quality start as the lefty provided 6.0 innings and allowed just three runs on four hits with a season-high nine strikeouts. He improved to 6-2 on the year and now has 72 strikeouts to just 22 walks this campaign.
Of note, he is now tied for eighth in program history in career wins (24) and tied for seventh in career strikeouts (266).
In relief, junior William Ray and freshman Josh Gunther closed out the contest as the duo combined for two scoreless innings with just one hit allowed with Gunther fanning a pair of Tigers.
Sophomore shortstop Marek Houston notched his second grand slam of the season and third of his career with a first-pitch blast in the bottom of the second inning. He capped off a career-day with his second-career triple in the sixth to go with a pair of walks.
After a Clemson pitching change, senior Jake Reinisch restored the four-run lead for Wake Forest with a three-run no-doubter over the right field fence. The designated hitter joined Houston in reaching base four times Sunday afternoon as he added a single and two free passes. His three runs batted in moved him back into the team-lead with 63 this season.
Sophomore Jack Winnay wrapped up his stellar series against the Tigers with a three-hit day, including a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. He finished the weekend 7-for-12 with three home runs and eight RBI. This season, he ranks second on the team with 19 big flies and is one behind Nick Kurtz (20) for the team lead.
Wake Forest had five home runs in total on Sunday, as graduate transfer Adam Tellier notched his 11th of the year in the seventh and junior Seaver King walked it off with a solo shot to leadoff the eighth. King has now reached base safely in 25-consecutive games and has a hit in the last 11.
The 100 Demon Deacon home runs mark the third consecutive season the Deacs have reached the century mark and it is the fourth-highest home run total in program history. Coming into the weekend, only six teams in the country had 100 or more home runs with the Deacs total entering Friday ranking 14th nationally.
HOW IT HAPPENED
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
STAGGERING STATISTICS
FROM COACH WALTER
"That's a great win right there. I'm really proud of Josh Hartle and the way he pitched today. He had that one inning where he gave up the three runs, but I'm really happy with the way Josh threw. Nine strikeouts, one walk and got two big shutdown innings for us. Offensively, we had some chances early and then finally Marek broke through with the two-out grand slam. Then we finally capitalized on a free pass on Jack Winnay's home run and then same thing with Jake Reinisch. Again, we had an okay offensive day, I wouldn't say great offensive day. Jack had a great weekend and then Reinisch was really good on the second half of the weekend. Antonio Morales got on base today, Marek Houston had a really good day today. The bullpen was really good again. If I would have drawn up how I wanted today's game to look like I would have done exactly that. Hartle gets 18 outs, Will Ray gets four outs and Josh Gunther gets the rest. It sets us up in our bullpen for Tuesday and headed into a big NC State series on Thursday." - head coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
Wake Forest closes the 2024 regular season home slate on Tuesday against Liberty. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m. on the ACC Network.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
With the victory, the Demon Deacons (36-16, 15-12 ACC) earned their second ACC sweep of the season and extended their winning streak to a season-best nine games. It also marked the first time this season the nationally-ranked Tigers (37-13, 17-10 ACC) have been swept and extended the Wake Forest winning streak over Clemson to seven games dating back to the 2022 season. Additionally, 12 runs over the weekend are the fewest Clemson has scored in a series.
This also is the second-consecutive ACC home series where the Deacs have defeated a top-10 team, taking the series against then No. 8 Florida State in late April.
On the mound, junior Josh Hartle earned his second-consecutive quality start as the lefty provided 6.0 innings and allowed just three runs on four hits with a season-high nine strikeouts. He improved to 6-2 on the year and now has 72 strikeouts to just 22 walks this campaign.
Of note, he is now tied for eighth in program history in career wins (24) and tied for seventh in career strikeouts (266).
In relief, junior William Ray and freshman Josh Gunther closed out the contest as the duo combined for two scoreless innings with just one hit allowed with Gunther fanning a pair of Tigers.
Sophomore shortstop Marek Houston notched his second grand slam of the season and third of his career with a first-pitch blast in the bottom of the second inning. He capped off a career-day with his second-career triple in the sixth to go with a pair of walks.
After a Clemson pitching change, senior Jake Reinisch restored the four-run lead for Wake Forest with a three-run no-doubter over the right field fence. The designated hitter joined Houston in reaching base four times Sunday afternoon as he added a single and two free passes. His three runs batted in moved him back into the team-lead with 63 this season.
Sophomore Jack Winnay wrapped up his stellar series against the Tigers with a three-hit day, including a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. He finished the weekend 7-for-12 with three home runs and eight RBI. This season, he ranks second on the team with 19 big flies and is one behind Nick Kurtz (20) for the team lead.
Wake Forest had five home runs in total on Sunday, as graduate transfer Adam Tellier notched his 11th of the year in the seventh and junior Seaver King walked it off with a solo shot to leadoff the eighth. King has now reached base safely in 25-consecutive games and has a hit in the last 11.
The 100 Demon Deacon home runs mark the third consecutive season the Deacs have reached the century mark and it is the fourth-highest home run total in program history. Coming into the weekend, only six teams in the country had 100 or more home runs with the Deacs total entering Friday ranking 14th nationally.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Starter Josh Hartle worked a scoreless first inning with a pair of strikeouts.
- Hartle added two more punchouts in the second to get the Deacs back in the dugout.
- Wake Forest struck for four runs in the bottom half of the second to grab an early lead.
- Senior Jake Reinisch got the frame started with a four-pitch walk.
- Left fielder Antonio Morales slapped a one-out single through the left side to move Reinisch into scoring position.
- Freshman Cam Nelson drew the Deacs second walk of the inning to load the bases.
- With two away, shortstop Marek Houston launched his third career grand slam, attacking the first pitch over the wall in left field to put Wake Forest up 4-0.
- Hartle responded with a nine-pitch shutdown frame in the top of the third.
- Clemson trimmed the Wake lead to one with a three-run homer in the fourth.
- A pair of fly outs and Hartle's seventh strikeout of the contest preserved the one-run lead in the top of the fifth.
- Wake Forest extended their lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
- Right fielder Jack Winnay lasered a lead-off single into left center to start the frame.
- Junior Seaver King worked a full count walk to put a pair of Deacs on the base paths.
- After Clemson made the call to the bullpen, Reinisch greeted the Tigers reliever with a tank to right field for his 16th homer of the year to make it 7-3.
- Hartle picked his season-high ninth strikeout in a shutdown frame in the top of the sixth.
- The Deacs tacked on three again in the sixth to take a 10-3 lead.
- Houston stayed red hot with a triple off the wall in left center for his second extra-base hit of the day with one out.
- After the Tigers intentionally walked first baseman Nick Kurtz, Winnay made them pay, lasering a homer off the wall in left for his 19th of the year.
- Reliever Will Ray entered for Wake Forest in the seventh. Ray escaped a jam, inducing a 5-3 groundball double play to leave the bases loaded.
- Wake Forest continued to add to its lead in the bottom half with Adam Tellier launching his 11th home run down the left field line to lead off the inning.
- Morales reached on a walk and Burley singled to put two runners on with one out.
- A tailor-made double play scored Morales after the throw to first squirted away from the first baseman to push the advantage to 12-3 after seven innings.
- Morales reached on a walk and Burley singled to put two runners on with one out.
- After Ray got the first out of the eighth, righthander Josh Gunther entered, striking out a pair.
- On the fourth pitch of the bottom of the eighth, King ended the game via run rule when he became the fifth Demon Deacon of the day to homer, sending the pitch 434-feet over the left center fence and ending the game 13-3.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- Wake Forest had five home runs in total on Sunday with 12 of the 13 runs coming via a home run.
- The 100 Demon Deacon home runs mark the third consecutive season the Deacs have reached the century mark and it is the fourth-highest home run total in program history. Coming into the weekend, only six teams in the country had 100 or more home runs with the Deacs total entering Friday ranking 14th nationally.
- Over the last three seasons, Wake Forest has totaled 352 home runs which leads the ACC and also ranks third nationally during that time and is these are just the only four teams to have 100 or more home runs each season:
| Rank | School | Home Runs |
| 1. | Tennessee | 415 |
| 2. | Florida | 373 |
| 3. | Wake Forest | 352 |
| 4. | Campbell | 348 |
STAGGERING STATISTICS
- With the victory Sunday afternoon, junior lefthander Josh Hartle now moves to tied for eighth all-time in program history with 24 career victories:
| Rank | Name | Career Wins |
| 1. | John Hendricks (1996-99) | 34 |
| 2. | Kyle Sleeth (2001-03) | 31 |
| 3. | Rhett Lowder (2021-23) | 30 |
| 4. | Frank Humber (1986-89) | 29 |
| 5. | Parker Dunshee (2014-17) | 28 |
| T6. | Scott Siemon (1998-01) | 25 |
| T6. | Mike MacDougal (1997-99) | 25 |
| T8. | Josh Hartle (2022-Pres.) | 24 |
| T8. | Marc Palmieri (1990-93) | 24 |
| 10. | Eric Schmitt (1997-00) | 23 |
- Additionally, Hartle also moved to tied for seventh in program history in career strikeouts with 266, five behind Kyle Sleeth in sixth.
| Rank | Name | Career Strikeouts |
| 1. | Parker Dunshee (2014-17) | 330 |
| 2. | Rhett Lowder (2021-23) | 326 |
| 3. | John Hendricks (1996-99) | 312 |
| 4. | Mike MacDougal (1997-99) | 288 |
| 5. | Buddy Jenkins (1987-91) | 277 |
| 6. | Kyle Sleeth (2001-03) | 271 |
| T7. | Josh Hartle (2022-Pres.) | 266 |
| T7. | Frank Humber (1986-89) | 266 |
| 9. | Ross Atkins (1992-95) | 250 |
| 10. | Dave Bush (1999-02) | 249 |
FROM COACH WALTER
"That's a great win right there. I'm really proud of Josh Hartle and the way he pitched today. He had that one inning where he gave up the three runs, but I'm really happy with the way Josh threw. Nine strikeouts, one walk and got two big shutdown innings for us. Offensively, we had some chances early and then finally Marek broke through with the two-out grand slam. Then we finally capitalized on a free pass on Jack Winnay's home run and then same thing with Jake Reinisch. Again, we had an okay offensive day, I wouldn't say great offensive day. Jack had a great weekend and then Reinisch was really good on the second half of the weekend. Antonio Morales got on base today, Marek Houston had a really good day today. The bullpen was really good again. If I would have drawn up how I wanted today's game to look like I would have done exactly that. Hartle gets 18 outs, Will Ray gets four outs and Josh Gunther gets the rest. It sets us up in our bullpen for Tuesday and headed into a big NC State series on Thursday." - head coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
Wake Forest closes the 2024 regular season home slate on Tuesday against Liberty. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m. on the ACC Network.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hartle, Josh (6-2)
L: Aidan Knaak (4-1)
Batting:
HR: Tristan Bissetta 1
RBI: Tristan Bissetta 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Blake Wright 1 ; Cam Cannarella 1 ; Tristan Bissetta 1
HBP: Alden Mathes 1 ; Blake Wright 1
Batting:
2B: Winnay, Jack 1
3B: Houston, Marek 1
HR: Houston, Marek 1 ; Winnay, Jack 1 ; King, Seaver 1 ; Reinisch, Jake 1 ; Tellier, Adam 1
RBI: Houston, Marek 4 ; Winnay, Jack 3 ; King, Seaver 1 ; Reinisch, Jake 3 ; Tellier, Adam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Houston, Marek 2 ; Kurtz, Nick 1 ; Winnay, Jack 2 ; King, Seaver 2 ; Reinisch, Jake 2 ; Tellier, Adam 1 ; Morales, Antonio 2 ; Nelson, Cam 1
CS: Houston, Marek 1 ; Reinisch, Jake 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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RBI
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3
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2
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2
RBI
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Players Mentioned
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