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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind a pitching gem from sophomore Duncan Marsten and three home runs, the Wake Forest baseball team (28-14, 11-10 ACC) closed out its home midweek slate with a 14-3 run-rule victory over UNCG (15-26, 2-10 SoCon) on Tuesday night at David F. Couch Ballpark.
Closed the home midweek slate in style 😎 pic.twitter.com/LOyVj24CN5
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 22, 2026
Marsten recorded his best outing of the season, finishing the game with six strikeouts while not allowing a hit over the course of 5.0 scoreless innings. This marks the Lake Balboa, Calif., native’s fourth appearance without giving up a run and the first since he tossed 10 strikeouts in 5.0 scoreless frames against Davidson on February 27.
Two times ✌️ pic.twitter.com/Hx8kJqLjwO
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 22, 2026
The Wake Forest pitching staff allowed just one hit against the Spartans, with the bullpen combining for four strikeouts over the final two innings.
Uncle Mo on our side 👊 pic.twitter.com/DagFHKCOk5
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 22, 2026
Sophomore catcher Matt Conte led the charge offensively for the Demon Deacons, launching a pair of two-run home runs. Conte opened the scoring with a 442-foot blast in the second inning, before crushing a 424-foot no-doubter in the sixth for his eighth home run of the season.
Mashed 🥔 pic.twitter.com/kxXlKXZYnx
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 21, 2026
After an impressive series against NC State, freshman JD Stein continued his hot streak as he notched his ninth multi-hit game of the season. Stein got on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, before launching a three-run shot to give the Deacs an 11-0 lead in the fifth.
No idea where it went… but it went really far 😳 pic.twitter.com/BiWjFrEquK
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 22, 2026
Meanwhile, junior second baseman Blake Schaaf added two hits of his own, including a solo home run in the fourth and a two-out RBI single in the fifth.
Sent by Stein 📤 https://t.co/DPT4izffuz pic.twitter.com/vHQl0Zs7VT
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 21, 2026
The middle infield duo has stepped up offensively since the opening game of the series against Miami on April 10, combining for 22 hits and seven home runs over that span. Individually, Stein has gone 12-for-27 (.444) with four home runs and eight RBIs, while Schaaf is 10-for-21 (.476) at the plate with three home runs and nine RBIs over that time.
Watch it fly ✈️ pic.twitter.com/mebGV86SXC
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 21, 2026
Elsewhere, sophomore designated hitter Dalton Wentz rocketed his 11th home run of the season on a 422-foot solo shot in the sixth.
Schaafy makes it 8-0 🎱 pic.twitter.com/vbB1VCGkDi
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 21, 2026
STAGGERING STATISTICS
The Wake Forest offense came alive over its five-game homestand as they outscored their opponents 69-22 over that stretch.
The Demon Deacons reached double digits in all four of their wins during the homestand.
Additionally, the Deacs have tallied 23 home runs in their last five games, pushing its season total to 65.
Preis plates another 💯 pic.twitter.com/tyB0d3ULne
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) April 21, 2026
FROM COACH WALTER
“[We] did what we needed to do. This is one of those trap games that you worry about coming into it. Duncan [Marsten] wasn’t his usual self. He had a little arm tenderness, so we knew he wasn’t going to give us six or seven innings, but we were hoping to get at least five good ones out of him, which he certainly did. [He] threw a ton of strikes and had three shutdown innings. [I’m] really happy with Tyler Wood, [Ryan] Brennecke and [Grant] Nicholson. All three of those guys are getting better every week, so I’m happy to see those guys get out there and help us win a ball game. [We had] a bunch of two-out RBIs and some good base running. There was a good read with a ball in the dirt by [Luke] Costello, good first to third by [Blake] Schaaf and then [JD] Stein came in behind them. Obviously, [Matt] Conte had a good day, and then both Stein and Schaaf had good days today as well. Overall, it was a good day for the Deacs all around and a good win headed into a huge series.” – Head Coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons travel to Atlanta for a three-game ACC series against No. 3 Georgia Tech starting on Friday. First pitch against the Yellow Jackets is set for 7 p.m. ET.
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