Wake Forest Athletics
Saturday, April 18
Winston-Salem, N.C.
4 p.m.
Wake Forest University
27-13, 11-9
18
vs
7
NC State
25-14, 8-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC State | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| Wake Forest | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 2 |
Demon Deacons Run-Rule NC State For Second Straight Game to Secure Series
4/18/2026 7:55:00 PM | Baseball
Wake Forest has scored 40 runs over the first two games against the Wolfpack, marking the most runs in back-to-back games since April 22 and 23, 2023 at Pitt when the Deacs also scored 40 combined runs.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest baseball team (27-13, 11-9 ACC) continued its offensive onslaught against NC State (25-14, 8-9 ACC) on Saturday afternoon, as the Demon Deacons secured the series with an 18-7 run-rule win over the Wolfpack at David F. Couch Ballpark.
This marked the first time since April 22 and 23, 2023 at Pitt when the Deacs also scored 40 combined runs in back-to-back games.
Wake Forest got a large amount of production from the top five players in the order, combining for all 16 RBIs in the game while also having all five of the Demon Deacon home runs in the game.
Sophomore Luke Costello tallied a career-high four hits, ending the afternoon 4-of-5 from the plate while driving home a team-high five runs. He also blasted his team-best 13th home run of the season in the fifth inning over the left field wall.
Sophomore Matt Conte had a pair of long balls in the game including the game clincher in the seventh, bringing his season total to six. In total, he finished the game with four RBI on a pair of two-run homers.
Junior Javar Williams set the table for the lineup, tallying a team-high three runs scored while also having four RBI with three coming on his fourth inning home run to left. It marked his ninth homer of the season.
Junior Kade Lewis continued his hot start to the series as he finished 3-for-4 at the dish with two RBIs, including a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth. Lewis has now gone a combined 5-for-7 with five RBIs, two home runs and four runs scored over the first two games of the series.
As a team, the Demon Deacons finished the afternoon 16-of-31 at the dish. The Deacs lineup continued their hot hitting as this marked the third consecutive game that nine Deacs recorded a hit. Additionally, all 10 players with a plate appearance scored at least one run, including seven Deacs with multiple runs scored.
Saturday's game was the annual Epilepsy Awareness Night, featuring a special jersey auction where fans can bid on game-worn jerseys. Fans can click HERE to bid until midnight Saturday to claim their game-worn jersey to help raise awareness for a special cause.
HOW IT HAPPENED
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
"We had a great crowd today. [I'm] really pleased that Deacon Nation has showed up here these last two days. Hopefully, we get another good crowd tomorrow. [Today was a] special day, for me personally and for our program. The epilepsy jersey and the Ryan Lloyd Foundation are very near and dear to my heart. We had a ton of alums in town for the golf tournament yesterday, and then at the event today. To see Nora out there throwing the first pitch out is a really special moment. [I'm] really glad that we got a win today for the Ryan Lloyd Foundation, and hopefully this jersey auction raises some money for a great cause. Emmett Aldrich and his family came and spoke to our team pregame. [I'm] really proud of that family and our relationship with them, and they've endowed a scholarship. To be associated with a family of that character is a testament to our program and to our players. So, it was a great day all the way around.
Troy Dresser certainly didn't have his stuff that he had last week against Miami, but he battled. We got a couple of big double play balls. Troy had a shutdown inning. Evan [Jones] got a shutdown inning. We found a way. Days like this, where the wind's blowing out, it's hard to keep a team in the ballpark. We've for the most part kept NC State in the ballpark the last two days, and that's really been the difference. They're such a good offensive team. They just grind on you. They put pitchers on your pitchers, so we had to go to Jonesy a little sooner than we wanted to, but we just found a way to win. I'm glad it didn't go any further so we can save some bullets to give ourselves a chance to win tomorrow." - Head Coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
Wake Forest looks for the first home sweep of its Big Four rival since 2001 tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET on ACCN Extra.
FOLLOW THE DEACS
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
This marked the first time since April 22 and 23, 2023 at Pitt when the Deacs also scored 40 combined runs in back-to-back games.
Wake Forest got a large amount of production from the top five players in the order, combining for all 16 RBIs in the game while also having all five of the Demon Deacon home runs in the game.
Sophomore Luke Costello tallied a career-high four hits, ending the afternoon 4-of-5 from the plate while driving home a team-high five runs. He also blasted his team-best 13th home run of the season in the fifth inning over the left field wall.
Sophomore Matt Conte had a pair of long balls in the game including the game clincher in the seventh, bringing his season total to six. In total, he finished the game with four RBI on a pair of two-run homers.
Junior Javar Williams set the table for the lineup, tallying a team-high three runs scored while also having four RBI with three coming on his fourth inning home run to left. It marked his ninth homer of the season.
Junior Kade Lewis continued his hot start to the series as he finished 3-for-4 at the dish with two RBIs, including a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth. Lewis has now gone a combined 5-for-7 with five RBIs, two home runs and four runs scored over the first two games of the series.
As a team, the Demon Deacons finished the afternoon 16-of-31 at the dish. The Deacs lineup continued their hot hitting as this marked the third consecutive game that nine Deacs recorded a hit. Additionally, all 10 players with a plate appearance scored at least one run, including seven Deacs with multiple runs scored.
Saturday's game was the annual Epilepsy Awareness Night, featuring a special jersey auction where fans can bid on game-worn jerseys. Fans can click HERE to bid until midnight Saturday to claim their game-worn jersey to help raise awareness for a special cause.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Starting pitcher Troy Dressler worked around a one-out triple with a pair of strikeouts to end a scoreless top of the first.
- The Demon Deacons struck first in the bottom of the first after a bloop single by sophomore Luke Costello scored junior Javar Williams from second.
- After the Wolfpack scored three in the top of the second, Wake Forest responded with four runs in the home half of the inning to retake a 5-3 lead.
- The Demon Deacons loaded the bases following a leadoff walk by senior Jimmy Keenan and a pair of singles by sophomore Jackson Miller and freshman JD Stein.
- Williams drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to a run.
- Sophomore Dalton Wentz reached safely on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 3-3.
- L. Costello recorded his second RBI single of the game to give the Deacs the lead back.
- Wentz hustled around from second base on a wild pitch to push the lead to two runs.
- Dressler recorded a shutdown frame in the top of the third, highlighted by a 6-4-3 double play.
- NC State cut the lead down to one run in the top of the fourth.
- The Demon Deacons continued their offensive onslaught as they plated six in the bottom of the fourth.
- Following a leadoff single by freshman Andrew Costello and a four-pitch walk by Stein, Williams mashed his ninth home run of the season to extend the lead to 8-4 in the bottom of the fourth.
- The Demon Deacons tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly by junior Kade Lewis.
- Sophomore Matt Conte launched a two-run shot off the scoreboard to make it 11-5.
- The Wolfpack scored a pair of runs in the fifth.
- L. Costello continued his stellar afternoon as he skied a three-run blast to left field for his team-leading 13th home run of the season in the home half of the fifth.
- Lewis made it back-to-back home runs for the Demon Deacons, pushing the lead to 15-6.
- Freshman reliever Evan Jones closed out a scoreless sixth inning with his third strikeout of the game.
- The Demon Deacons made it a 10-run game in the bottom of the sixth after junior Blake Schaaf scored on a wild pitch.
- NC State made it 16-7 with a run in the seventh.
- Conte launched his second home run of the game on a two-run shot to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh.
- The Demon Deacons secured the series with the 18-7 win.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- The top five of the Demon Deacon order led the charge on Saturday afternoon, combining for all 16 RBIs in the game while also hitting all five home runs.
- Sophomore Luke Costello led the way as he recorded a career-high four hits while also adding five RBIs and scoring a pair of runs.
- Sophomore Luke Costello led the way as he recorded a career-high four hits while also adding five RBIs and scoring a pair of runs.
- The Demon Deacons have scored 40 runs over the first two games of the series against the Wolfpack, marking the most runs scored in back-to-back games since April 22nd and 23rd, 2023 at Pitt when the Deacs also scored 40 combined runs in back-to-back games.
- Wake Forest has recorded a combined 32 hits in the series, with 11 of them being home runs.
- Wake Forest has recorded a combined 32 hits in the series, with 11 of them being home runs.
"We had a great crowd today. [I'm] really pleased that Deacon Nation has showed up here these last two days. Hopefully, we get another good crowd tomorrow. [Today was a] special day, for me personally and for our program. The epilepsy jersey and the Ryan Lloyd Foundation are very near and dear to my heart. We had a ton of alums in town for the golf tournament yesterday, and then at the event today. To see Nora out there throwing the first pitch out is a really special moment. [I'm] really glad that we got a win today for the Ryan Lloyd Foundation, and hopefully this jersey auction raises some money for a great cause. Emmett Aldrich and his family came and spoke to our team pregame. [I'm] really proud of that family and our relationship with them, and they've endowed a scholarship. To be associated with a family of that character is a testament to our program and to our players. So, it was a great day all the way around.
Troy Dresser certainly didn't have his stuff that he had last week against Miami, but he battled. We got a couple of big double play balls. Troy had a shutdown inning. Evan [Jones] got a shutdown inning. We found a way. Days like this, where the wind's blowing out, it's hard to keep a team in the ballpark. We've for the most part kept NC State in the ballpark the last two days, and that's really been the difference. They're such a good offensive team. They just grind on you. They put pitchers on your pitchers, so we had to go to Jonesy a little sooner than we wanted to, but we just found a way to win. I'm glad it didn't go any further so we can save some bullets to give ourselves a chance to win tomorrow." - Head Coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
Wake Forest looks for the first home sweep of its Big Four rival since 2001 tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET on ACCN Extra.
FOLLOW THE DEACS
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dressler, Troy (6-1)
L: Consiglio, Cooper (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Fraasman, Brayden 1 ; Lanphere, Drew 1 ; Bargo, Dalton 1
3B: Nixon, Luke 1
HR: Ryan, Mikey 1
RBI: Fraasman, Brayden 2 ; McHugh, Chris 1 ; Lanphere, Drew 1 ; Johnson, Rett 1 ; Ryan, Mikey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lanphere, Drew 1 ; Bargo, Dalton 2 ; Johnson, Sherman 1 ; Ryan, Mikey 3
Batting:
2B: Costello, Luke 1
HR: Lewis, Kade 1 ; Conte, Matt 2 ; Costello, Luke 1 ; Williams, Javar 1
RBI: Wentz, Dalton 1 ; Lewis, Kade 2 ; Conte, Matt 4 ; Costello, Luke 5 ; Williams, Javar 4
SF: Lewis, Kade 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wentz, Dalton 2 ; Stein, JD 2 ; Lewis, Kade 2 ; Schaaf, Blake 1 ; Conte, Matt 2 ; Costello, Luke 2 ; Williams, Javar 3 ; Miller, Jackson 1 ; Costello, Andrew 2 ; Keenan, Jimmy 1
SB: Williams, Javar 1
HBP: Williams, Javar 1 ; Keenan, Jimmy 1
PO: Lewis, Kade 1
Game Leaders
1b/rf
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
5
3b/1b
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballSpring Fan Fest Media Availability (4/18/26) | Wake Forest Football
Saturday, April 18
Spring Camp Media Availability (4/14/26) | Wake Forest Football
Tuesday, April 14
Spring Camp Media Availability (4/11/26) | Wake Forest Football
Saturday, April 11
Spring Camp Media Availability (4/9/26) | Wake Forest Football
Thursday, April 09