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Wake Forest Baseball Weekend Recap — Feb. 27–Mar. 1
Friday Afternoon vs. LMU — Deacons Dominate From First Pitch
WINSTON‑SALEM, N.C. — The Demon Deacons opened the weekend with authority, and Couch Ballpark was alive with energy. Wake Forest wasted no time stamping their dominance in the early innings. In the first inning, Dalton Wentz led off with a single and promptly scored on a Javar Williams double, setting the tone for a commanding offensive display. LMU tried to respond in the third, but Blake Morningstar held the Lions at bay, mixing high‑velocity fastballs with sharp breaking pitches. His command of the strike zone allowed the defense to convert grounders into key outs, frustrating LMU’s attempts to get anything going.
By the fifth inning, Wake Forest’s bats were in full swing. Keenan, Wentz, and Williams kept the scoreboard ticking with timely hits, while aggressive baserunning turned singles into doubles and scored runs in bunches. Morningstar cruised through seven scoreless innings, finishing with 9 strikeouts and giving up just four hits. The Deacons’ offense, meanwhile, piled on 12 runs on 11 hits, including two doubles and a triple, leaving LMU with no answer. The game ended 12–2, a perfect showcase of Wake Forest’s combination of pitching dominance and potent offense.
Stat Leaders:
- Blake Morningstar: 7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 9 K
- Dalton Wentz: 3 H, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Javar Williams: 2 H, 2 RBI
- Jimmy Keenan: 2 H, 2 RBI
Friday Nightcap vs. Davidson — Deacons Cruise 7–1
Friday night brought a different energy — Davidson came ready to fight. They scored first in the second inning on a sharp RBI single that put early pressure on Wake Forest. But the Deacons responded immediately. Dalton Wentz singled and later scored on Jimmy Keenan’s two‑RBI single, giving the home team the lead. Wake Forest’s offense, consistent all weekend, kept the pressure on with timely hits from Javar Williams and Jackson Miller, extending the lead to 5–1 by the fifth inning.
Duncan Marsten, in his first career start, dazzled on the mound. He struck out 10 batters in 5 innings, mixing off-speed pitches with pinpoint fastballs to stymie Davidson’s lineup. The bullpen came in to close the game, allowing only one more run in the seventh as Wake Forest coasted to a 7–1 victory. Key defensive plays included a diving stop by the shortstop that ended a potential Davidson rally and a laser throw to second that doubled off a leadoff runner in the sixth.
Stat Leaders:
- Duncan Marsten: 5 IP, 1 R, 10 K
- Dalton Wentz: 2 H, 1 R, 2 RBI
- Jimmy Keenan: 2 H, 2 RBI
- Javar Williams: 2 H, 1 RBI
Saturday vs. LMU — Offensive Explosion and Big Innings
Saturday’s game turned Couch Ballpark into a hitting showcase. The first two innings saw Wake Forest taking an early lead with consecutive singles by Wentz, Miller, and Keenan, scoring two runs. LMU attempted a comeback in the third, but the Deacons’ defense held strong. The fourth inning was explosive — a double from Javar Williams, combined with aggressive baserunning from Blake Schaaf and Wentz, produced three runs in one swing, electrifying the home crowd.
LMU tried to hang around, scoring a pair of runs in the fifth, but Wake Forest responded immediately. Dalton Wentz launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, extending the lead and silencing the visitors. The Deacons’ offense was relentless, stringing together clutch hits and walking in runs with patience at the plate. The final score, 15–4, reflected not only the depth of the lineup but also Wake Forest’s ability to capitalize on every pitching mistake and defensive miscue from LMU.
Stat Leaders:
- Dalton Wentz: HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
- Javar Williams: 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 R
- Jackson Miller: 2 H, 1 RBI
- Team Offense: 15 R, 14 H, multiple extra-base hits
Sunday vs. Davidson — Deacons Cap Weekend 16–6
Sunday’s matchup was a wild ride from start to finish. Davidson scored first in the third inning on a sharp RBI single, briefly energizing their fans. Wake Forest answered immediately in a dramatic bottom-half rally. Jimmy Keenan’s two‑RBI single ignited the charge, followed by Javar Williams’ two‑RBI double and Dalton Wentz’ two‑RBI single, flipping the momentum entirely.
The Deacons’ offense didn’t stop there. The fifth and sixth innings saw a flood of runs: singles, doubles, and smart baserunning turned each opportunity into multiple runs. Davidson tried to rally in the sixth inning, scoring four runs, but Wake Forest answered with additional runs in the bottom half, showing poise and depth. By the seventh, the Deacons’ offense had essentially put the game out of reach, finishing with 16 runs on 15 hits, including three doubles and two triples.
Stat Leaders:
- Dalton Wentz: 3 H, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Javar Williams: 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 R
- Jimmy Keenan: 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 R
- Blake Schaaf: 2 R, key baserunning plays
Weekend Statistical Leaders
Team Totals (Feb. 27–Mar. 1):
- Runs Scored: 60
- Runs Allowed: 13
- Innings Pitched (Starters): 22, 1 R
- Strikeouts (Starters): 37
Key Individual Performers:
- Blake Morningstar: 7 IP, 0 R, 9 K
- Duncan Marsten: 5 IP, 1 R, 10 K
- Dalton Wentz: Multiple HRs & clutch RBIs
- Javar Williams: Consistent middle-order hitting
- Jimmy Keenan: Early RBI production, key hits
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