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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In a back-and-forth battle, the Wake Forest baseball team (38-20) fell, 6-5, to Kentucky (32-21) in the opening game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 29, 2026
Sophomore Dalton Wentz tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with his team-leading 18th home run of the season. Wentz ended the game going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Wake Forest offense.
Now we go 😤 https://t.co/JfsAhjb6xF pic.twitter.com/7x3zUD1JzT
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 29, 2026
Catcher Matt Conte launched a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth for his 11th home run of the year, while freshman Andrew Costello unloaded for a solo shot in the sixth for his third of the season.
Left 'em stranded 😤 pic.twitter.com/DeMFALvtY6
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 29, 2026
In the leadoff spot, junior Javar Williams recorded his 24th multi-hit game of the season as he went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored.
Harsch gets the shutdown ✖️
M7 | UK 5, WF 4 pic.twitter.com/J8Hfwcv11Y
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 29, 2026
Starting pitcher Chris Levonas was lights out over 5.0 one-run innings, limiting the Wildcats to just two hits with six strikeouts and a walk. With six strikeouts, Levonas sits in seventh all-time for a single season with 116 on the year.
Deuce gets loose 💣 pic.twitter.com/hYOKa5G1UG
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 29, 2026
FROM COACH WALTER
“That’s really a disappointing loss, given the way our team battled. We only gave up a couple of hard-hit balls all day. We just kept giving up free 90s. We knew coming into it that if we issued some free 90s and let them have their way on the bases, it would be a tough game. That’s exactly what happened today. We did a good job battling back. Andrew Costello’s home run and Dalton Wentz’s home run behind that gave us a chance. We had them where we wanted in the ninth inning. They had two outs with Will Ray on the mound, and we threw a wild pitch that turned out to be the winner. We really couldn’t get anything going in the ninth inning. Credit to [Jackson Soucie]. Disappointing end to the game. We have to come back and be ready to go tomorrow. We do have the team and the pitching staff to battle through the losers’ bracket so we’ll be ready to go tomorrow.” – Head Coach Tom Walter
Did his job 🤝
▪️5.0 IP
▪️6 K
▪️2 H
▪️1 ER pic.twitter.com/Ia7uoVv0f8— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 29, 2026
UP NEXT
Wake Forest will look to bounce back tomorrow against the loser of West Virginia and Binghamton. First pitch is set for noon ET.
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