Demon Deacons Drop Series Finale to Cal

Sunday, March 29

Winston-Salem, N.C.

1 p.m.

Wake Forest University

20-8, 6-6

Cal

14-13, 1-8

California

Wake Forest

3/29/2026 5:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Wake Forest will head on the road for the next nine contests, starting with a midweek matchup at High Point on Tuesday.

By: Grant Keith and KJ Smith

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Despite bringing the winning run to the plate, the Wake Forest baseball team (20-8, 6-6 ACC) dropped the series finale to Cal (14-13, 1-8 ACC) by a score of 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at David F. Couch Ballpark.

Sophomore catcher Matt Conte continued his stellar series against the Golden Bears as he went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth. The Andover, Mass., native ended the series with five hits and five RBIs after going a combined 3-for-7 with a trio of RBIs in the first two games.

Freshman right fielder Andrew Costello added an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh as he finished the game going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Junior designated hitter Boston Torres logged a pair of hits, hitting a double to center field in the second inning and a single in the seventh.

Despite the loss, sophomore right-hander Troy Dressler logged a solid outing on the mound, tossing eight strikeouts while allowing just one run in 5.1 innings of work.

Meanwhile, sophomore reliever Rhys Bowie provided a spark out of the bullpen, striking out all five batters that he faced.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Starting pitcher Troy Dressler made quick work of Cal in the first as he picked up a pair of strikeouts en route to a three-up, three-down frame.
- The Mifflinburg, Pa., native logged his third and fourth punchouts of the game in a scoreless second inning.
The Demon Deacons kept the Golden Bears off the board once again in the top of the third.
Wake Forest put two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the third, but was unable to capitalize.
Sophomore catcher Matt Conte gunned down a runner on a steal attempt to end the fourth.
The Deacs threatened once again in the home half of the fourth, but were unable to break the scoreless tie.
Dressler struck out a pair as the Deacs retired the side in the top of the fifth.
Cal took a 1-0 lead in the sixth.
- The Golden Bears extended their lead with four runs in the seventh.
Wake Forest got on the board in the bottom of the seventh as freshman right fielder Andrew Costello lined an RBI single into right field.
Relief pitchers Zach Johnston and Rhys Bowie combined for a scoreless inning in the top of the eighth, with Bowie getting the final two outs via strikeouts.
The Deacs cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the eighth as Conte launched a two-run home run over the left field wall.
Bowie struck out the side in the top of the ninth, bringing his total to five on the afternoon.
Wake Forest brought the winning run to the plate, but the Deacs ultimately fell by a score of 5-3.

FROM THE COACHING STAFF
"Tough game today. I give our kids a lot of credit. It didn't go our way for a long stretch in that game. I thought Troy [Dressler] was excellent. He gave us a chance to win for a second consecutive Sunday. Gavin Eddy is good, and he's had some success along the way. We knew we were in for a battle today, and they got the better of us. I'm proud of our kids because they found a way to give us a chance late. I'll take our chances when you have Kade Lewis up with two guys on base and a chance to win the game. That's all you can ask for. You're not going to come through in that situation every single time, but to be in a position to come through is all we can ask for. I'm sure they're disappointed in the way that it went today, but anytime you win a series in the ACC, it's a good weekend." - Associate Head Coach Bill Cilento

"That game is 100-percent on me. I needed to make better decisions in the seventh inning to give us the best chance to win. Fortunately, we get to play again on Tuesday." - Head Coach Tom Walter

UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons are on the road for the next nine contests, starting with a midweek contest at High Point on Tuesday, Mar. 31. First pitch against the Panthers is set for 6 p.m. ET

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