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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.
BELT x 2 pic.twitter.com/CQM68enaAr
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
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.
In control 🤘 pic.twitter.com/QE4LOSKnom
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
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.
Is 15 home runs in the last three games any good? 💣 pic.twitter.com/9dmXZG1hWy
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
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.
https://twitter.com/WakeBaseball/status/2045625516573511818?s=20
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.
Strictly business 🤝 https://t.co/SyObQ4hclN pic.twitter.com/rB13kPcD18
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
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.
OFF THE BOARD 🚀 pic.twitter.com/UmGlrlP6ko
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
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.
Just enough 🌬️ https://t.co/4mW2A18kQO pic.twitter.com/W6rWVaTklB
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
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.
COUCH BOMB 💣 pic.twitter.com/pzaSuluRfm
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
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.
Up a couple after three 👌 pic.twitter.com/8JQiR5vGlS
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
STAGGERING STATISTICS
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.
Fire us up 😤 https://t.co/2XZDLxJ0vC pic.twitter.com/Jk5xoFNvjs
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 18, 2026
FROM COACH WALTER
“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.
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