Sunday, February 16
Winston-Salem, NC
1 p.m.
Wake Forest University
4-0
24
vs
6
Marist
0-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Marist
0
0
0
3
0
0
3
6
7
0
Wake Forest
2
5
4
4
5
4
X
24
16
2
No. 14 Deacs Complete Undefeated Opening Weekend with Offensive Explosion Against Marist
2/16/2025 5:38:00 PM | Baseball
The Demon Deacons have now scored double-digit runs in their first four games of the season for the first time in program history.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Hammering four home runs and using six multi-RBI performances across the lineup, the Wake Forest baseball team (4-0, 0-0 ACC) concluded their opening weekend series with an offensive outpouring to defeat Marist (0-4, 0-0 MAAC), 24-6.
With their 24-6 victory, the Demon Deacons have now recorded 10+ runs in their first four games of a season for the first time in program history. The four-game streak is also the longest streak of scoring 10+ runs in a game since the Deacs rattled off five-straight double-digit games in 2023.
The Demon Deacons started the game red hot, as sophomore Kade Lewis drove in juniors Marek Houston and Ethan Conrad with a single to right center in the bottom of the first.
Wake Forest piled on five more runs in the second inning, as Houston started the inning with a two-run double before he scored himself on the next pitch following a Conrad RBI-single. After a hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases, senior Chris Katz rifled a two-run double for his first hit of the season to put the Deacs up 7-0.
Junior Jack Winnay, who ranked second on the team last season with 20 home runs, got his 2025 count started the very next inning, as he launched a 403-foot grand slam to left center to widen the Demon Deacon lead to 11-0.
After Marist got on the board with three runs in the top of the fourth inning, Wake Forest responded with another four runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Deacs loaded the bases following Katz's second double of the game and back-to-back walks, before junior Austin Hawke mashed a double into left center. Houston added to his spectacular opening weekend with an RBI infield single, while graduate student Michael Salvino scored on a wild pitch to end the inning.
The Deacs added another five runs in the bottom half of the fifth, starting with a two-run home run by Hawke to put the Deacs up 17-3. Houston added his fourth RBI of the day and 13th of the season moments later on another single up the middle, before Conrad mashed a 387-foot two-run home run on the next pitch.
Wake Forest ended the game with another four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Katz's first home run of the season to lead off the inning. After a fielder's choice added another run, junior Jimmy Keenan recorded an RBI double and transfer Matt Scannell hit an RBI single in a pinch-hit appearance to drive in the final runs of the game for the Deacs.
The Red Foxes added three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Will Ray closed out the 24-6 victory, recording the final out of the weekend.
HOW IT HAPPENED
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
STAGGERING STATISTIC
FROM COACH WALTER
"Good overall weekend. I'm really pleased with us offensively. We had good at-bats all weekend. We scored runs with two outs all weekend, which I was happy about our first 11 runs today came with two outs. Two through six in our order between [Marek] Houston, [Ethan] Conrad, [Jack] Winnay, [Kade] Lewis, and today, [Chris] Katz, [Ryan] Preisano had really good at-bats up and done. Austin Hawke had a good day so happy to see that.
On the mound, I was happy with our bullpen all weekend. Haiden [Leffew], I thought threw the ball better than the line score would indicate. We need to answer some questions with the starting pitching but feel really good about our position players and our bullpen right now. I'm happy with our club.
Last year we swept our way through Opening Weekend and then lost at UNCG two days later so I told our guys after the game today that we need to be ready to go on Tuesday." - head coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons have their first road test of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 18 as they take on UNCG at 5 p.m. ET. The contest is set to air on ESPN+.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
With their 24-6 victory, the Demon Deacons have now recorded 10+ runs in their first four games of a season for the first time in program history. The four-game streak is also the longest streak of scoring 10+ runs in a game since the Deacs rattled off five-straight double-digit games in 2023.
The Demon Deacons started the game red hot, as sophomore Kade Lewis drove in juniors Marek Houston and Ethan Conrad with a single to right center in the bottom of the first.
Wake Forest piled on five more runs in the second inning, as Houston started the inning with a two-run double before he scored himself on the next pitch following a Conrad RBI-single. After a hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases, senior Chris Katz rifled a two-run double for his first hit of the season to put the Deacs up 7-0.
Junior Jack Winnay, who ranked second on the team last season with 20 home runs, got his 2025 count started the very next inning, as he launched a 403-foot grand slam to left center to widen the Demon Deacon lead to 11-0.
After Marist got on the board with three runs in the top of the fourth inning, Wake Forest responded with another four runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Deacs loaded the bases following Katz's second double of the game and back-to-back walks, before junior Austin Hawke mashed a double into left center. Houston added to his spectacular opening weekend with an RBI infield single, while graduate student Michael Salvino scored on a wild pitch to end the inning.
The Deacs added another five runs in the bottom half of the fifth, starting with a two-run home run by Hawke to put the Deacs up 17-3. Houston added his fourth RBI of the day and 13th of the season moments later on another single up the middle, before Conrad mashed a 387-foot two-run home run on the next pitch.
Wake Forest ended the game with another four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Katz's first home run of the season to lead off the inning. After a fielder's choice added another run, junior Jimmy Keenan recorded an RBI double and transfer Matt Scannell hit an RBI single in a pinch-hit appearance to drive in the final runs of the game for the Deacs.
The Red Foxes added three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Will Ray closed out the 24-6 victory, recording the final out of the weekend.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sophomore Blake Morningstar opened the game with a scoreless first inning on the mound, striking out two Marist batters in the process.
- Following back-to-back walks by juniors Marek Houston and Ethan Conrad, sophomore Kade Lewis collected his seventh hit of the weekend with a single to right center to give the Deacs a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first.
- The Demon Deacon defense kept Marist off the scoreboard in the top of the second as Morningstar closed out the inning with his third strikeout of the game.
- The Deacs added another five runs in the bottom of the second inning:
- Houston notched his eighth hit of the weekend with a double into center field to score sophomore Ryan Preisano and freshman Matt Conte.
- Conrad drove in Houston on the next pitch with a single up the middle to make it 5-0.
- After loading the bases with junior Jack Winnay reaching on a wild pitch and a Lewis walk, senior Chris Katz recorded his first hit of the season with a double to left, scoring Conrad and Winnay to extend the Demon Deacon lead to 7-0.
- Morningstar notched his fourth strikeout of the game en route to another scoreless inning in the third.
- After the Deacs loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and two walks, Winnay launched a 403-foot grand slam over the wall in left-center for his first home run of the season, giving Wake Forest an 11-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
- Marist got on the board with three runs in the top of the fourth.
- The Demon Deacons responded in the bottom of the fourth as they scored four runs to make it 15-3:
- Katz opened the inning with his second double of the game before a Preisano single and a Conte walk loaded the bases.
- Junior Austin Hawke drove in two runs on a double into left center.
- Houston recorded his third RBI of the game on an infield single that scored Hawke from third.
- Salvino scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
- Freshman Troy Dressler entered the game in relief for his collegiate debut, pitching a scoreless inning in the top of the fifth inning.
- Wake Forest continued their offensive explosion with a five-run fifth inning:
- After a Preisano single, Hawke notched his second hit of the day with a 352-foot two-run home run to right center, putting the Deacs up 17-3.
- Houston added to his impressive opening weekend, as he singled up the middle to score Salvino for his fourth RBI of the day and his 13th RBI of the weekend.
- Conrad hammered a 387-foot two-run blast into right-center the very next pitch for his first home run as a Demon Deacon and to extend the lead to 20-3.
- Junior Zach Johnston needed only 10 pitches to retire the side in the top of the sixth.
- Wake Forest added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 24-3:
- Katz continued his impressive offensive output with a 413-foot solo shot to lead off the inning.
- After three consecutive walks loaded the bases, Salvino grounded out to the pitcher to score Preisano from third.
- Junior Jimmy Keenan recorded a pinch-hit double to drive in another run.
- Graduate student Matt Scannell added a pinch-hit single to score Hawke.
- Marist scored three runs in the top of the seventh.
- Senior Will Ray recorded the final out of the game as the Deacs won 24-6.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- Junior Marek Houston continued his outstanding start to the 2025 season against the Red Foxes, finishing the game going 3-for-3 with a double, four RBIs, and four runs scored.
- The Preseason All-American put on a show during the opening four games of the season, recording 13 hits, 17 RBIs, 15 runs, three home runs, and two doubles while holding a .765 batting average.
- Senior Chris Katz had an incredible offensive display against Marist, including his first home run of the season on a 413-foot solo shot in the bottom of the sixth.
- The Raleigh, N.C., native also added two doubles as he went 3-for-5 with three RBIs on the day.
- Junior Jack Winnay, who ranked second on the team with 20 home runs last season, got his 2025 count rolling with a 403-foot grand slam in the bottom of the third inning.
- Over the first four games of the season, Winnay garnered five hits while driving in 10 runs.
- Junior Austin Hawke also launched his first home run of the season during the fifth inning with a 352-foot two-run blast. Hawke also added a two-run double to conclude his 2-for-4, four RBI performance on Sunday.
- Junior Ethan Conrad added his first home run as a Demon Deacon as he hammered a 387-foot bomb as part of a five-run fifth inning.
- Conrad also added an RBI single as part of a 2-for-3, three RBI game against Marist.
- The Saugerties, N.Y., native has been a bright spark thus far for the Deacs, having gone 10-for-18 with a home run, five doubles, and 13 RBIs over the opening weekend.
- Sophomore Kade Lewis collected his seventh hit of the season with a two-run double to get the Demon Deacon offense going in the first inning.
- Lewis, who was named the Big East Freshman of the Year last season, concluded the opening weekend with eight hits and six RBIs.
STAGGERING STATISTIC
- Over the past four seasons, the Deacs are 29-1 in the opening month of play, going 7-1 in 2024, 10-0 in 2023 and 8-0 in 2022. During that stretch, Wake Forest has outscored their opponents by a 375 to 84 (78+today) margin (9.70 runs per game).
- With their 24 runs on Sunday afternoon, the Demon Deacons scored 10 or more runs in their first four games of the season for the first time in program history.
- The four-game streak is the longest streak of scoring 10+ runs in a game since the Deacs scored 10 in five-straight contests during the 2023 season.
FROM COACH WALTER
"Good overall weekend. I'm really pleased with us offensively. We had good at-bats all weekend. We scored runs with two outs all weekend, which I was happy about our first 11 runs today came with two outs. Two through six in our order between [Marek] Houston, [Ethan] Conrad, [Jack] Winnay, [Kade] Lewis, and today, [Chris] Katz, [Ryan] Preisano had really good at-bats up and done. Austin Hawke had a good day so happy to see that.
On the mound, I was happy with our bullpen all weekend. Haiden [Leffew], I thought threw the ball better than the line score would indicate. We need to answer some questions with the starting pitching but feel really good about our position players and our bullpen right now. I'm happy with our club.
Last year we swept our way through Opening Weekend and then lost at UNCG two days later so I told our guys after the game today that we need to be ready to go on Tuesday." - head coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons have their first road test of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 18 as they take on UNCG at 5 p.m. ET. The contest is set to air on ESPN+.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morningstar, Blake (1-0)
L: Speranza, Andrew (0-1)
Batting:
2B: McNelly, Aydan 1
HR: Diaz, Chris 1
RBI: Donahue, Zach 1 ; McNelly, Aydan 2 ; Diaz, Chris 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Brotz, AJ 1 ; Rivera, Noel 1 ; Pollack, Kyle 1 ; McNelly, Aydan 1 ; Claiborn, Jason 1 ; Diaz, Chris 1
Batting:
2B: Schaaf, Blake 1 ; Keenan, Jimmy 1 ; Rubino, Nick 2 ; Hawke, Austin 1
HR: Brennecke, Ryan 1 ; Miller, Jackson 1 ; Rubino, Nick 1 ; Hawke, Austin 1
RBI: Jones, Evan 1 ; Schaaf, Blake 4 ; Keenan, Jimmy 1 ; Brennecke, Ryan 3 ; Matt Scannell 1 ; Miller, Jackson 4 ; Lewis, Kade 2 ; Rubino, Nick 3 ; Hawke, Austin 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Evan 3 ; Schaaf, Blake 4 ; Brennecke, Ryan 4 ; Miller, Jackson 2 ; Rubino, Nick 2 ; Preisano, Ryan 4 ; Conte, Matt 2 ; Hawke, Austin 3
SB: Jones, Evan 1 ; Brennecke, Ryan 1
HBP: Jones, Evan 2 ; Miller, Jackson 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
4
H
3
RBI
4
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
4
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
4
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballFootball Media Availability (11/4/25)
Tuesday, November 04
Wake Forest Men's Basketball Highlights vs American (Nov. 3, 2025)
Tuesday, November 04
Wake Forest Women's Basketball Highlights vs Radford (Nov. 3, 2025)
Tuesday, November 04
Wake Forest Head Football Coach Jake Dickert Weekly Press Conference (11/3/25)
Monday, November 03