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Deacons Detonate Early, Leave No Doubt in Series Sweep
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The first swing of the weekend cracked through the cold air like a starting gun. By the final out Sunday, there was no mistaking what had just unfolded.
The 22nd-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons didn’t simply win a series at David F. Couch Ballpark — they imposed themselves on it. Power in waves. Strikeouts in bunches. Innings that snowballed from manageable to overwhelming in a matter of pitches. The Siena Saints came looking to compete. Wake Forest responded by controlling every phase of the weekend.
By Sunday afternoon, the series wasn’t just over. It felt claimed.
Friday: Trading Blows Before the Knockout (Wake Forest 11, Siena 7)
The opener didn’t unfold quietly. It crackled.
Wake Forest wasted no time igniting the crowd Friday night, jumping ahead with early thunder off the bat of Dalton Wentz. His first-inning solo homer set the tone, but it was his later three-run blast that truly tilted momentum. Every swing felt violent, deliberate — like a lineup intent on announcing itself.
Still, Siena pushed back. The Saints strung together quality at-bats through the middle innings, capitalizing on traffic and briefly narrowing the gap. Wake’s pitching bent at times, and for a stretch, the game teetered in that uncomfortable space where one mistake can flip the script.
But this Wake lineup never looked rattled.
Instead of pressing, the Deacons extended at-bats. They worked counts deep. They accepted walks. When Siena inched closer, Wake responded with run-producing contact — a two-out RBI here, a gap shot there, a sacrifice fly that restored breathing room. The Deacons homered four times in the opener and scored in five different innings, showcasing an offense capable of producing in layers, not bursts.
By the late innings, the back-and-forth feel gave way to control. Wake finished with 11 runs and enough separation to ensure the night ended on its terms.
Game one wasn’t clean. But it was forceful.
Saturday: Levonas Seizes the Series (Wake Forest 8, Siena 1)
Saturday belonged to right-hander Chris Levonas.
With the chance to clinch the series, Levonas delivered five commanding innings, striking out 10 and allowing just one run. His fastball climbed past bats late, and his breaking ball froze hitters who had no choice but to guess. Siena managed scattered hits, but no rhythm.
Wake’s offense gave him breathing room immediately.
Three runs in the first inning put Siena on its heels. Two more in the second widened the margin. The early cushion allowed Levonas to attack hitters aggressively, pounding the zone and forcing weak contact when he wasn’t missing bats entirely.
The Deacons’ eight-run performance felt different from Friday’s power display. This one was controlled. They moved runners with purpose, cashed in on situational chances and avoided the big inning defensively that might have reopened the door.
When Levonas exited, the bullpen handled the final frames with efficiency, preserving both the lead and the tone. Siena was held to one run, and the series was secured without late drama.
This wasn’t a slugfest.
It was dominance.
Sunday: Costello’s Showcase Ends It Early (Wake Forest 15, Siena 1 — 7 innings)
If the first two games were statements, Sunday was a celebration.
Wake Forest exploded for 15 runs in a seven-inning run-rule finale, highlighted by an eight-run fourth inning that turned a competitive contest into a rout. The inning unfolded in waves — walks, singles, hard contact and finally a crushing blow.
At the center of it all stood Luke Costello.
Costello delivered the loudest performance of the weekend, blasting two home runs and driving in six runs. His first shot ignited the dugout. His second felt like punctuation — a towering drive that removed any lingering suspense.
What made Sunday so lopsided wasn’t just power. It was discipline. Wake drew 15 walks, refusing to chase and forcing Siena’s pitching staff into constant stress. The Deacons scored in five of six innings, building pressure until the game buckled.
Siena managed only one run, and even that felt fleeting amid Wake’s relentless attack. By the time the final out settled into a glove, the result felt inevitable.
The sweep was complete.
A Team Finding Its Shape
Across three games, Wake Forest outscored Siena 34-9. The Deacons showcased explosive offense in the opener, pitching precision in the middle game and total domination in the finale.
Levonas’ 10-strikeout effort anchored a staff that allowed just three runs over the final two contests. Costello’s six-RBI Sunday highlighted a lineup that produced throughout the order. Wentz’s early fireworks ensured momentum never drifted far from Wake’s side.
February series rarely define seasons.
But they reveal identity.
This weekend, Wake Forest looked like a team comfortable playing from ahead, confident responding to pressure and capable of turning innings into statements. The pieces are there — power, depth, command.
And for three days in Winston-Salem, it all clicked.
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