Demon Deacons Claim Series Over Louisville on Walk-Off Hit-by-Pitch

Friday, May 1

Winston-Salem, N.C.

6 p.m.

Wake Forest University

31-17, 13-13

Louisville

26-21, 10-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Louisville	0	2	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	5	8	2
Wake Forest	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	2	6	11	1

Demon Deacons Claim Series Over Louisville on Walk-Off Hit-by-Pitch

5/1/2026 10:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Wake Forest has now taken the series against the Cardinals for the fourth consecutive season.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest baseball team (31-17, 13-13 ACC) walked off Louisville (26-21, 10-13 ACC) for the second straight night as the Demon Deacons secured the series against the Cardinals with a 6-5 win on Friday at David F. Couch Ballpark.

Sophomore catcher Matt Conte drove in the winning run after getting hit by the first pitch of the at-bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Conte also added an RBI single to open the scoring in the first, bringing him to 5-for-8 with four RBIs through the first two games of the series.

Junior center fielder Javar Williams led the Demon Deacons offensively as he matched his career high with four hits, including an RBI single that gave Wake Forest the lead in the fourth. Williams finished the game going 4-for-4 at the plate with a double, an RBI and a team-high three runs scored, including the game-winning run.

Junior left fielder Boston Torres continued his hot start to the series as he launched his third home run of the season to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. The Lynchburg, Va., native has now tallied six hits, three RBIs and scored three runs against the Cardinals.

Freshman reliever Ryan Bosch was electric out of the bullpen, fanning three of the six batters he faced, including getting a huge strikeout to keep the game tied and leave a pair of runners stranded for Louisville in the top of the fifth. Over his last seven appearances, Bosch has allowed just one run, lowering his ERA to 3.38 on the season.

Meanwhile, freshman right-hander Marcelo Harsch earned his second win of the season as he recorded four strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one run over 2.2 innings of solid relief.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Starting pitcher Chris Levonas recorded his first strikeout in a three-up, three-down top of the first.
Catcher Matt Conte recorded his fifth hit of the weekend to drive in junior Javar Williams from second to put the Deacs in front in the bottom of the first.
Louisville took a 2-1 lead off a two-run home run in the top of the second.
Levonas bounced back in the third as he struck out the side.
The Demon Deacons tied the game in the bottom of the third as Williams scored on a wild pitch.
- The Dartmouth, Mass., native rocketed a double off the wall in right-center field to lead off the inning.
The Cardinals retook the lead with a solo shot in the fourth.
The Deacs answered immediately as junior left fielder Boston Torres launched his third home run of the season off the scoreboard to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth.
- Williams gave Wake Forest a 4-3 lead moments later as he snuck a two-out single through the left side of the infield to plate junior Blake Schaaf.
Louisville tied the game in the fifth.
Sophomore right fielder Luke Costello robbed a potential home run to preserve a scoreless sixth inning.
- Freshman reliever Ryan Bosch added his second punchout of the game in the frame.
Bosch and fellow freshman Marcelo Harsch combined for three strikeouts to keep the game deadlocked in the top of the seventh.
Louisville made it 5-4 with a solo home run in the eighth.
The Demon Deacon defense came up with a huge 6-2-5-4 double play to keep it a one-run game heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Wake Forest walked off Louisville for the second straight game as they plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth.
- Freshman JD Stein led off the inning with a first-pitch single into right field.
- Following a walk by Williams, the Deacs tied the game as Stein came around to score following a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Costello.
- After Lewis drew a walk to load the bases, Conte was hit by the first pitch of his at-bat to force Williams across and give the Deacs the win, 6-5.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Freshman relievers Ryan Bosch and Marcelo Harsch were outstanding for the Demon Deacons, combining for seven strikeouts while allowing just one run over the final 4.2 innings.
- Bosch fanned three of the six batters he faced, including a huge punchout to keep the game tied and leave a pair of runners stranded for Louisville in the top of the fifth.
- Harsch allowed just one hit and one run while striking out four Louisville hitters in 2.2 innings of relief.

STAGGERING STATISTICS

With Friday's win, the Demon Deacons have now claimed their fourth consecutive series over the Cardinals.
- The Deacs have picked up eight of their 14 wins over Louisville over the last four seasons.

Season	Location	Series Record
*2026*	*Winston-Salem, N.C.*	*2-0*
2025	Louisville, Ky.	2-1
2024	Winston-Salem, N.C.	2-1
2023	Louisville, Ky.	2-1

FROM COACH WALTER
"That's an awesome win. I'm just so proud of our guys. They just keep fighting, scrapping and battling. I thought our defense was the difference in the game. Jimmy Keenan threw out two guys on the bases in big situations. [Luke] Costello robs a ball that might have gotten out. In that last inning, we had first and third with nobody out. We executed a play at the plate, executed a rundown perfectly, and then back-picked it, and then Dalton [Wentz] made a really good short-hop play to get us in the dugout. Obviously, JD [Stein] gets us started with a clean single, and then Luke Costello had a great bunt in a huge situation where we needed it. We executed that situation perfectly and then found a way to win the ballgame." - Head Coach Tom Walter

UP NEXT
Wake Forest will look for its second ACC sweep of the season as they take on the Cardinals tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.

FOLLOW THE DEACS
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook