No. 1 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Earn Comeback Win Over Stanford in Men’s College World Series Opener

No. 1 Demon Deacons Earn Comeback Win Over Stanford in Men’s College World Series Opener
from www.godeacs.com

Thousands of Wake Forest fans were on-hand at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on Saturday afternoon to witness a go-ahead two-RBI single by Danny Corona in the eighth inning. Additionally, a quartet of Demon Deacon hurlers, led by Rhett Lowder, struck out a combined 10 Cardinal hitters as the Deacs downed Stanford, 3-2.

OMAHA, Neb. – In front of a near-capacity crowd, which included thousands of Wake Forest fans, the No. 1-seeded Demon Deacons earned a come-from-behind win on Saturday afternoon over Stanford inside at Charles Schwab Field Omaha, 3-2.

Wake Forest, who is competing in their third Men’s College World Series in program history and first since 1955, executed offensively down the stretch of the game as the eighth inning of Saturday’s game featured a pair of walks, sacrifice bunt and a go-ahead two-RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Danny Corona.

Dating back to the Winston-Salem Regional two weeks ago, Corona has 19 RBI in the Deacs last five games.

Not to be outdone, junior third baseman Brock Wilken launched his 31st homer of the season in the bottom half of the second inning to start the scoring for Wake Forest.

On the mound for the Demon Deacons, two-time ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder tossed a stellar 5.1 innings on Saturday and allowed just two runs while striking out six Cardinal hitters. He was relieved by sophomore Sean Sullivan who faced five hitters, picked off two runners who were on base and was forced to leave the game when the contest was halted in the middle of the seventh inning due to inclement weather.

Junior Seth Keener (8-1), who earned the win, took over after the lightning delay and struck out all four hitters he faced as he completed the seventh inning and worked a clean eighth frame.

Junior Camden Minacci took over on the bump in the ninth for the Deacs and induced three ground balls, including a game-ending double play to secure the win for Wake Forest and earn his 13th save this season.

Saturday marked Wake Forest’s third victory in 11 tries this season when trailing after seven innings.

Finally, The victory in game one moves the Demon Deacons into the winner’s bracket where they will play the winner of LSU/Tennessee on Monday night.

How It Happened
Lowder struck out a pair with runners on and then got the final out in the first by getting a popout to second base.
Trailing 1-0 going into the second inning, Lowder settled in, striking out the first batter he faced in the inning.
Marek Houston made an amazing play, tracking down a fly ball that was well into centerfield for the second out of the inning.
Lowder fanned the final batter in the inning, collecting his fourth of the game to that point.
In the bottom of the second, Brock Wilken tied the game at 1-1 on the fifth pitch of the inning.
The home run was his 31st of the second which tied him for the ACC single-season record and tied him for the nation’s lead this season. Additionally it moved him into elite company in NCAA history, tying him for 17th in single-season history:
Pete Incaviglia, (Oklahoma State) – 48 in 1985
Jeff Ledbetter, (Florida State) – 42 in 1982
Lance Berkman, (Rice) – 41 in 1997
Brandon Larson, (LSU) – 40 in 1997
Steve Hacker, (Missouri State) – 37 in 1995
Mike Willes, (BYU) – 35 in 1988
Daylan Holt, (Texas A&M) – 34 in 1999
Troy Glaus, (UCLA) – 34 in 1997
Nate Gold, (Gonzaga) – 33 in 2002
Kevin Mench, (Delaware) – 33 in 1998
Joe Dillon, (Texas Tech) – 33 in 1997
Frank Fazzini, (Florida State) – 33 in 1985
Ivan Melendez, (Texas) – 32 in 2022
Billy Becher, (New Mexico State) – 32 in 2003
Lance Shebelut, (Fresno State) – 32 in 1988
Mark McGwire, (Southern California) – 32 in 1984
Brock Wilken (Wake Forest) – 31 in 2023
Jac Caglianone (Florida) – 31 in 2023
Kris Bryant, (San Diego) – 31 in 2013
John VanBenschoten, (Kent State) – 31 in 2001
Casey Child, (Utah) – 31 in 1997
J.D. Drew, (Florida State) – 31 in 1997
Mike Willes, (BYU) – 31 in 1987

It was the fourth home run in the last seven at-bats, dating back to the Super Regional.
A couple more impressive defensive plays from the Demon Deacons highlighted the top of the third.
This included a diving play in left centerfield from Justin Johnson and he nearly doubled off the runner at first base.
Tommy Hawke legged out a two-out infield copper to the shortstop to collect his first base knock of the Men’s College World Series.
Pierce Bennett followed that up with a single through the right side.
Lowder collected his fifth strikeout of the game to start the fourth.
He then got a one-pitch groundout to first as Kurtz finished it unassisted.
A grounder back to the mound put a zero up in the score column to keep the game at a 2-1 deficit.
After a home run in his first at-bat, Wilken worked a five-pitch walk to lead off the top of the fourth.
Bennett Lee worked his way on for the first time with a walk, putting runners at first and second with two outs.
Cecere loaded the bases with an eight-pitch, full-count walk.
Lowder got a quick flyout to left field to begin his fifth inning of work.
A grounder to first retired the second Stanford player of the inning.
Lowder got his sixth strikeout of the game to put up his second-consecutive scoreless inning.
With the Deacs trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Lowder got the first out of the inning via a flyout to center before turning the ball over to Sean Sullivan.

Facing his first batter, Sullivan got a ground ball for the second out of the inning on two pitches.
He picked off a runner at first for the final out of the inning.
Down one run in the top of the seventh, Sullivan got a flyout to left to start the inning.
His second pickoff of the game retired the second batter of the inning.
After a weather delay, Seth Keener entered the game.
He got a strikeout, getting the final out of the inning.
Cecere singled to put a runner on with one out in the seventh.
Houston followed that up with a single to center.
Hawke moved both runners into scoring position.
Keener struck out the first batter of the eighth.
He followed that up with another strikeout swinging.
Keener fanned the side in order to keep it as a one-run ball game.
With 3-4-5 due up for the Demon Deacons in the bottom of the eighth, Kurtz led off the inning with a walk.
A pitching change was made before Wilken stepped to the plate.
Wilken walked to put two runners on with no outs.
Johnson moved both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt.
Corona gave the Deacs their first lead with a single up the middle, scoring Kurtz and Wilken.
Camden Minacci took over on the bump in the ninth for the Deacs.
Following a leadoff groundout, Stanford’s Eddie Park reached on an error.
One pitch later, Tommy Troy grounded into a 4-3 double play to end the game.
Minacci earned his 13th save of the season.

Words from Walter
“It’s a great win for our team and I am just really proud of our guys. I told them after the game, if you are going to have a chance to win this thing, you are probably going to need to win a game where you do not play very well. I felt like we were tight early and nervous, and kind of got out of our plan offensively. We did not have great at-bats for the first seven innings, but you have to give credit to Stanford’s pitching. Joey Dixon and Drew Dowd did a great job and kind of held us at bay. We did just enough. Rhett Lowder did not have his great stuff as he has been battling a little virus the last couple of days, but he pitched through his mistakes and gave us a chance to win like he always does. Obviously, Brock Wilken getting us on the board with that homer in the second. And then, Danny Corona. What can I say about his at-bat other than clutch in that situation. It was a great timeout by Bill Cilento. He kind of pulled Danny down there, calmed him down and got him back to swinging on the top-half of the ball and kept him in the middle of the field there. Our bullpen with Sean Sullivan and Seth Keener did what they’ve done for us all year. Camden Minacci comes in pitch-after-pitch and gets that double play ball at the end there. Great team win and I’m really proud of our guys.”

Wake Forest Side of the Men’s College World Series Bracket
Game One: No. 1 Wake Forest def. No. 8 Stanford, 3-2 | Saturday, June 17 | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game Two: No. 5 LSU vs. Tennessee | Saturday, June 17 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game Three: Loser of Game One vs. Loser of Game Two | Monday, June 19 | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game Four: Wake Forest vs. LSU/Tennessee | Monday, June 19 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
Standout Stats
This is the Deacs’ third ever Men’s College World Series appearance, and its first since capturing the program’s first national championship in 1955.

After breaking the program record for wins in its opening game of the Winston-Salem NCAA Regional against George Mason on June 2, Wake Forest (53-10) has broken the program record for regular season wins, ACC wins, ACC series wins and overall wins this season. Additionally, the Deacs became the first team in Wake Forest history to have 50 or more wins in a single season in the NCAA Regional Final on June 4. Additionally, this year’s ballclub is just the fourth team in program history to win at least seven postseason games (2023, 2001, 1999, 1998).

Wake Forest Baseball 40-Win Seasons
2023- 53 overall wins (45 regular season, seven postseason)
2002 – 47 overall wins (42 regular season, five postseason)
1999 – 47 overall wins (39 regular season, eight postseason)
2001- 44 overall wins (37 regular season, seven postseason)
2017 – 43 overall wins (38 regular season wins, five postseason)
1998- 43 overall wins (36 regular season, seven postseason)
2000 – 42 overall wins, (38 regular season, three postseason)
2022 – 41 overall wins (39 regular season, two postseason)

Additionally, this year’s Demon Deacons squad became the 13th ACC team since 2010 to reach the 50-win mark and the 28th to do so since 2000. Additionally, the 53 wins this season marks the first 50-win season by an ACC team since 2019, the most wins by an ACC team since 2013 and is the third highest win total since 2010:
North Carolina – 2013 – 59
Virginia – 2011 – 56
Wake Forest – 2023 – 53
Louisville – 2017 – 53
Virginia – 2014 – 53
Louisville – 2019 – 51
North Carolina 2011 – 51
Virginia – 2010 – 51
Louisville – 2016 – 50
Florida State – 2012 – 50
Miami – 2016 – 50
Miami – 2015 – 50
NC State – 2013 – 50
Virginia – 2013 – 50
This year’s squad became the fastest team in program history and the first team in the nation this year to reach the 40-win mark with its 14-4 win against UNC Greensboro on May 9.

Wake Forest Fastest to 40 Wins
2023: 47 games
2002: 49 games
1999: 53 games
2001: 55 games
2022: 58 games
2017: 58 games
2000: 59 games
1998: 61 games
The Demon Deacons continue to lead the nation in wins (53) while having the least amount of losses among Division I teams (10). Additionally, the 53 wins are tied for the most in the ACC since 2017 and is tied for the third highest total since 2010:
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North Carolina – 2013 – 59
Virginia – 2011 – 56
Wake Forest – 2023 – 53
Louisville – 2017 – 53
Virginia – 2014 – 53
The Demon Deacons strikeout numbers have been historic, ranking sixth in NCAA history in single-season strikeouts:

Mississippi St. 2021 68 603.2 817
Vanderbilt 2021 67 598.0 790
Ole Miss 2021 67 586.1 765
Vanderbilt 2019 71 633.2 765
Wake Forest 2023 63 545.2 748
Southern Miss. 2022 66 596.1 746
Arizona St. 1972 72 625.0 732
Mississippi St. 2019 67 600.0 718
Florida St. 1986 74 637.0 718

In The Spotlight
Lowder’s 137 strikeouts sits just one punchout off Wake Forest’s single season strikeout record

Wake Forest Single Season Strikeouts
1. Mike Buddie 1992 138
2. Rhett Lowder 2023 137
2. Josh Hartle 2023 131
3. Griffin Roberts 2018 130
5. Mike MacDougal 1999 117
6. Kyle Sleeth 2002 113
7. Parker Dunshee 2017 111
John Hendricks 1998 111
9. Mark Seaver 1996 109
10. Sean Sullivan 2023 108
Ryan Cusick 2021 108

Additionally, with six strikeouts today, Lowder is now 11 punchouts away from breaking another program record. This mark is good for fourth among active pitchers in Division I baseball.

Wake Forest Career Strikeouts
1. Parker Dunshee 2014-17 330
2. Rhett Lowder 2021-Pres. 319
2. John Hendricks1996-99 312
4. Mike MacDougal1997-99 288
5. Buddy Jenkins 1987-91 277
6. Kyle Sleeth 2001-03 271
7. Frank Humber 1986-89 266
8. Ross Atkins 1992-95 250
9. Dave Bush 1999-02 249
10. Tim Cooney 2010-12 235
Mike Buddie 1990-92 235

This season, the two-time reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year has accumulated a 1.99 ERA in 113.1 innings to go along with a career-high 137 strikeouts.

The Albemarle, N.C. native has already received multiple accolades for his historic 2023 season:

2023 ACC Pitcher of the Year
Second pitcher in conference history to win back-to-back honors
2023 NCBWA First Team All-American
2023 ABCA First Team All-American
2023 Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American
2023 National Pitcher of the Year Finalist
2023 Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
2023 NCBWA District 4 Player of the Year
2023 First Team All-ACC
2023 First Team CSC Academic All-American
2023 Winston-Salem Regional All-Tournament Team
2023 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist
Lowder finished the regular season as the conference’s leader in ERA (1.73), wins (12), innings pitched (88.2) and strikeouts (108). In ACC play, Lowder also led the conference in those same categories.

Dating back to last season, Lowder has allowed three earned runs or less in 32 of his last 34 starts.

Brock Wilken got Wake Forest on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the bottom of the second, his 31st long fly of the season.
The home run was his 31st of the second which tied him for the ACC single-season record and tied him for the nation’s lead this season. Additionally it moved him into elite company in NCAA history, tying him for 17th in single-season history:
Pete Incaviglia, (Oklahoma State) – 48 in 1985
Jeff Ledbetter, (Florida State) – 42 in 1982
Lance Berkman, (Rice) – 41 in 1997
Brandon Larson, (LSU) – 40 in 1997
Steve Hacker, (Missouri State) – 37 in 1995
Mike Willes, (BYU) – 35 in 1988
Daylan Holt, (Texas A&M) – 34 in 1999
Troy Glaus, (UCLA) – 34 in 1997
Nate Gold, (Gonzaga) – 33 in 2002
Kevin Mench, (Delaware) – 33 in 1998
Joe Dillon, (Texas Tech) – 33 in 1997
Frank Fazzini, (Florida State) – 33 in 1985
Ivan Melendez, (Texas) – 32 in 2022
Billy Becher, (New Mexico State) – 32 in 2003
Lance Shebelut, (Fresno State) – 32 in 1988
Mark McGwire, (Southern California) – 32 in 1984
Brock Wilken (Wake Forest) – 31 in 2023
Jac Caglianone (Florida) – 31 in 2023
Kris Bryant, (San Diego) – 31 in 2013
John VanBenschoten, (Kent State) – 31 in 2001
Casey Child, (Utah) – 31 in 1997
J.D. Drew, (Florida State) – 31 in 1997
Mike Willes, (BYU) – 31 in 1987
With the second-inning blast, Wilken solidified his position on Wake Forest’s all-time single season home run list.

Wake Forest Single Season Home Runs
1. Brock Wilken 2023 31
2. Nick Kurtz 2023 24
Brendan Tinsman 2022 24
Billy Masse 1988 24
5. Brock Wilken 2022 23

Additionally, he increased his hold on the ACC career home record which he set in his final at-bat of the Super Regional victory over Alabama.

ACC Career Home Run Leaders
1. Brock Wilken, Wake Forest (2021-Pres)- 71
2. Anthony Maisano, GaT/WF* (1986-90)- 69
J.D. Drew, Florida State (1995-97)- 69
4. Pat Clougherty, NC State (1991-94)- 61

Wilken owns the Wake Forest career home run record, Wake Forest single-season home run record and is tied for the most home runs by a Wake Forest freshman ever.
Additionally, Kurtz and Wilken’s 55 combined home runs are the most by a duo in the nation this season:

Home runs by a duo this year
1. Brock Wilken & Nick Kurtz, WF (55)
2. Jac Caglianone & Wyatt Langford, Florida (51)
3. Nick Lorusso & Matt Shaw, Maryland (50)

On Deck
The No. 1 Wake Forest baseball team is headed back to the winner’s bracket game which is set to take place on Monday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. The Deacs will face the winner of LSU/Tennessee.

The Deacs are making the program’s third ever Men’s College World Series appearance, and its first since capturing the program’s first national championship in 1955.

Stay tuned to Wake Forest’s social media accounts (@WakeBaseball) for the latest scheduling updates and information.

1 thought on “No. 1 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Earn Comeback Win Over Stanford in Men’s College World Series Opener”

  1. from Derrick Johnson:
    My former Baseball coach was on that 1955 Wake Forest baseball national championship team. Luke McKeel. Page High school

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