DURHAM, N.C. – Despite a stellar performance by the Demon Deacon bullpen, the Wake Forest baseball team (23-11, 8-7 ACC) dropped a tightly contested game to No. 11 Coastal Carolina (24-8, 11-1 Sun Belt) by a final score of 2-1 on Tuesday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Final from Durham. pic.twitter.com/Jc7iKIIvFj
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 8, 2026
The Wake Forest bullpen kept the Demon Deacons within striking distance for most of the game, combining for six strikeouts while allowing just one hit in 4.1 scoreless innings.
Got out of it 😤 pic.twitter.com/BJSqTYBvwk
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 8, 2026
Freshman Ryan Bosch was effective over 1.0 innings of relief work, stranding a runner at third in the bottom of the fifth to keep the deficit at 2-0. Freshman right-hander Evan Jones added another solid appearance out of the bullpen, finishing the game with four strikeouts across 1.2 no-hit innings.
Got one back 🤝 pic.twitter.com/i8rvykF1Dl
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 8, 2026
Sophomore Rhys Bowie notched a strikeout in 1.0 scoreless frames, while senior Will Ray recorded the final two outs in his first appearance since March 22 against Virginia.
102 to get us on the board ☄️ pic.twitter.com/3bEN2gRXqq
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 8, 2026
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Duncan Marsten threw a career-high 99 pitches, holding the Chanticleers to a pair of runs over 4.2 innings with seven strikeouts. During his last two midweek starts, Marsten has struck out 13 hitters over 11.0 innings with just three runs allowed.
Leadoff man on in the 5th 👊 pic.twitter.com/tMkBwpRKLC
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 8, 2026
Offensively, sophomore right fielder Luke Costello hit a one-out double in the bottom of the sixth, marking his 13th extra-base hit of the season. With the double, the Erie, Pa., native has now recorded four extra-base hits in the last four games, including a pair of doubles and two home runs.
Houdini 🪄
Dunc escapes the bases-loaded, nobody-out jam. pic.twitter.com/oZA0A5oAIl
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 7, 2026
Sophomore catcher Matt Conte drove in the only run of the game as he roped a single up the middle to plate Costello for his 25th RBI of the season.
Two scoreless for 30 ✌️ pic.twitter.com/1dIV1yGxYs
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 7, 2026
FROM COACH WALTER
“[I] don’t know how you give up three runs in two Tuesdays and lose both those games. I just don’t know how that’s even possible. I’ve totally failed this team. [I] didn’t have us prepared to play. We didn’t compete. We didn’t bring energy. We didn’t bring toughness. That’s 100% on me.” – Head Coach Tom Walter
Outta the jam 🍇 pic.twitter.com/pSt7CVA44m
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 7, 2026
UP NEXT
Wake Forest travels to Miami for a three-game set against the Hurricanes. First pitch on Friday, Apr. 10, is set for 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.

