WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest baseball team (30-17, 12-13 ACC) walked off Louisville (26-20, 10-12 ACC) in the 10th inning to secure the opening game of the series by a score of 9-8 on Thursday night at David F. Couch Ballpark.
FOUND A WAY 😤 pic.twitter.com/tLEUFs8LPY
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
Four different Demon Deacons recorded at least three hits in the contest, with junior left fielder Boston Torres and sophomore catcher Matt Conte notching four hits each.
WAKE WINS!! WAKE WINS!! pic.twitter.com/lnxqTrKC4f
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
Torres set a new season high as he went 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBIs. The Lynchburg, Va., native opened his account with an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the first, before adding another RBI single to help the Deacs reclaim the lead in the fourth.
Ray K's a pair 🔥
Deacs back to the plate. https://t.co/gKAs1khxNE
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
Meanwhile, Conte logged a new career high in hits as he tallied four singles and two RBIs on the night. The Andover, Mass., native drove in the opening run of the game in the first inning, before tying the game in the bottom of the fourth. Conte also roped a single to move the winning run to third in the 10th.
Schaaf is 90 feet away with Wentz at the plate. Two down. https://t.co/RXplKpuh48
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
Sophomore Luke Costello also turned in a strong night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a pair of runs scored and his team-leading 54th RBI. It marked the fourth time with three or more hits for Costello so far this season. Additionally, Costello has reached base in 28-straight games and has recorded at least one hit in 17 of the last 20 games.
Painting corners 🖌️ pic.twitter.com/D4Pk3I7nXn
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
Second baseman Blake Schaaf also added three hits and drove in two with a pair of RBI singles. Since the start of the Miami series, Schaaf has gone 18-for-42 (.429) with four home runs and 13 RBIs over the 13-game span.
Glove flip and a beaut 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/meHuxTzETq
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
On the mound, sophomore left-hander Rhys Bowie matched his career high with six strikeouts while allowing just one unearned run in 3.1 innings of relief. Meanwhile, senior reliever Will Ray picked up his second win of the season as he fanned three batters in 2.0 innings.
Holding to it. pic.twitter.com/9M6HbhfW8v
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Junior left fielder Boston Torres and sophomore catcher Matt Conte led the Demon Deacons with four hits and a pair of RBIs each on Thursday.
Boston to go back in front 😤 pic.twitter.com/3AozHwmhHj
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
The four hits marked a new career high for Conte.
Matty singles to tie it back up 🪢
Bases still juiced with no outs. pic.twitter.com/WtGOoLYYPJ
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
Meanwhile, sophomore left-hander Rhys Bowie matched his career high with six strikeouts while allowing one unearned run over 3.1 innings of relief.
Fourth two-out RBI 🤌 pic.twitter.com/tlmdAVivJZ
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) May 1, 2026
FROM COACH WALTER
“Well, that was a heck of a baseball game. That’s a gutty win that we really needed. I’m so proud of our guys for battling and finding a way. A lot of things went against us there late in that game. We gave up too many free passes and then had a couple of outfield errors there in the ninth inning that cost us a chance to win it in regulation. You know, I give credit to Louisville. They had guys who executed at-bats when they needed to. Matt Conte had a great day at the plate today. He was really the difference. He and Boston Torres had a huge day. Matt’s two-out ball down the line there in the right field to get Kade Lewis to third, was the difference. Jackson Miller had a great at-bat. He found a way to put the ball in play against a guy with a really good slider. That’s usually Jackson’s kryptonite, but he found a way. Super proud of Rhys Bowie. He threw the ball great tonight. Will Ray, right behind him, was outstanding. Other than the free passes, which cost us a bunch of runs tonight, I was really pleased with the way we threw the baseball, and I’m proud of our guys. It was a good team win.” – Head Coach Tom Walter
UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons look to clinch the series against the Cardinals tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

