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PONCE, Puerto Rico — Over three sun‑drenched days at the 2026 Puerto Rico Challenge, the Wake Forest baseball team experienced the dramatic ebb and flow that makes college baseball compelling. What began Friday morning with a disappointing setback quickly shifted into performances that showcased the depth and resilience of the Demon Deacons. By Sunday afternoon, the No. 21 Wake Forest roster had bounced back with authority, blending a devastating pitching display with balanced offensive production to finish the weekend with a 2‑1 record and solid momentum heading into the home portion of its early season schedule.
Friday: Wake Forest Drops Season Opener to Houston
Wake Forest opened its 2026 campaign Friday against the Houston Cougars in Ponce, and the season’s first pitch set the tone for a challenging morning. After two scoreless innings, Houston broke through in a big way in the third, scoring four runs on productive at-bats and capitalizing on defensive miscues by the Demon Deacons. That early uprising gave the Cougars control of the game, and Wake Forest was never able to rally from the deficit in an 8‑2 loss.
Starting pitcher Blake Morningstar began well, keeping Houston off the board through two innings, but met trouble in the third when a bunt attempt led to an error and opened the door for multiple runs. Houston tacked on further scoring in the fourth and fifth innings, stretching the lead. Offensively, Wake Forest managed just two runs, including an RBI double by Dalton Wentz that drove in JD Stein, and an RBI by freshman Andrew Costello in his first collegiate appearance. Junior Kade Lewis and Javar Williams each contributed hits, but the offense was unable to deliver a decisive rally. This result snapped Wake Forest’s season‑opening win streak, a string that had reached 11 games.
On the mound, the Deacons turned to the bullpen after Morningstar’s early departure. Troy Dressler worked multiple innings and recorded a team‑high four strikeouts for the day, and freshman Ryan Brennecke delivered a hitless relief stint. Still, the early run support proved too much to overcome, leaving Friday’s opener in the loss column and offering coach Tom Walter plenty to address heading into the next game.
Saturday: Pitching Dominance and Timely Offense Lift Wake Forest Past Washington
After the disappointment of Opening Day, the Demon Deacons responded emphatically Saturday night in a 5‑0 victory over Washington. What had been a bullpen‑filled effort Friday turned into a comprehensive showing Saturday, with Wake Forest’s pitching staff setting the tone early and often. The Demon Deacons struck out 20 Huskies, tied for the second‑most in a game since 1999, and limited Washington to just four hits, underscoring the depth and swing‑and‑miss ability of the pitching staff.
Junior right‑hander Chris Levonas earned the win with nine strikeouts in 3.2 innings, and the bullpen backed him with 11 additional strikeouts over the final 5.1 innings. Senior Zach Johnston allowed no hits over 1.1 innings, and sophomore Rhys Bowie gave up just one hit over three innings, six of those ending in strikeouts. Freshman Evan Jones and sophomore Cameron Bagwell managed to strike out the side in the ninth for the final punctuation mark on a dominating night.
Wake Forest’s offense struck early in the second inning. Senior catcher Jimmy Keenan cleared the bases with a bases‑clearing double that drove in three runs, giving the Deacons a substantial early lead. Junior center fielder Javar Williams continued his hot start with two hits in the game, both bunt singles that helped keep offensive pressure on the Huskies. Freshman JD Stein delivered his first career RBI with an RBI double later in the contest, pushing the lead to 5–0. Washington stranded 10 runners and could not overcome Wake Forest’s pitching dominance, even after a rain delay pushed the start time later in the evening.
Sunday: Balanced Attack Propels Wake Forest Past Indiana State
Wake Forest closed the Puerto Rico Challenge on Sunday with arguably its most complete performance of the weekend, earning a 10‑1 victory over Indiana State that highlighted both offensive balance and pitching depth. Indiana State struck first in the bottom of the first inning, but junior left‑hander Matthew Dallas answered with a strong start, finishing with seven strikeouts over four innings and giving Wake Forest a chance to take control. Sophomore Duncan Marsten followed with four scoreless innings and six strikeouts, helping limit the Sycamores while the Wake Forest bats erupted.
The Demon Deacons’ offense opened scoring in the second inning and never let up. Junior outfielder Jackson Miller was a catalyst, finishing 2‑for‑4 with three RBIs, including a key two‑run single that helped break the game open. Junior Kade Lewis supplied Wake Forest’s first home run of the season — a two‑run blast that extended the advantage and energized the Wake Forest dugout. Senior Jimmy Keenan contributed an RBI double in the fifth inning, and nine different Deacons recorded hits in the contest, demonstrating a lineup depth that was on full display Sunday. Freshman Jordan Serrano capped his day with his first collegiate hit and an RBI single in the ninth inning.
The pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts on the day, complementing the offensive explosion and giving the Demon Deacons one of their most complete outings of the young season. The convincing victory provided a strong bookend to the weekend and gave Wake Forest a 2‑1 record in the Puerto Rico Challenge.
Weekend Statistical Notes
- Wake Forest’s pitching staff recorded 20 strikeouts against Washington and 15 against Indiana State, totaling 35 strikeouts in the final two games.
- Offensively, Wake Forest showed balance with contributions up and down the lineup, including multiple RBIs from Miller, Keenan and Stein, and the program’s first home run of the season from Lewis.
- After falling behind early in two of the series games, the Deacons showed improved situational hitting and pitching execution to secure wins and close out the weekend at 2‑1.
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