In a nail-biting contest at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, No. 11 Wake Forest showcased their resilience by edging out No. 4 Clemson baseball with a final score of 12-10 on Saturday afternoon. The victory allowed the Demon Deacons to level the series at 1-1, improving their record to 19-5 overall and 7-1 in the ACC, while Clemson fell to 22-3 overall with a 3-2 mark in conference play.
“Yeah, sure. I don’t know how many teams in the country can come back being down 10-0, but I know we’re one of them, and we had the winning run on base in the ninth inning. Not that there’s a moral victory there somewhere, but it just shows our toughness and shows our fight, the ability to not get down and find a way to just still be extremely competitive.”
Head coach, Erik Bakich
Early Dominance from Wake Forest
The game began with Wake Forest establishing control early on. In the first inning, Marek Houston set the tone with a solo home run that ignited the Demon Deacons’ offense. Following Houston’s lead, Matt Scannell contributed a two-out single in the second inning, further extending Wake’s lead.However, it was the third inning that truly defined the game. With one out and a costly error by the Tigers, Wake Forest capitalized by scoring a staggering eight runs. The highlight of this explosive frame was Jimmy Keenan’s grand slam, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Kade Lewis later capped the scoring in the inning with a three-run homer, propelling Wake Forest to a commanding 10-0 lead.
Clemson’s Resilient Response
Despite the daunting deficit, the Tigers refused to back down. In the bottom of the third inning, Clemson answered back with a spirited performance, scoring four runs on just one hit, aided by another error from the Demon Deacons. This resurgence was a sign of Clemson’s fighting spirit, and they continued to push back.In the fifth inning, Clemson kept the momentum going, tallying another four runs. Key contributions came from Luke Gaffney with a run-scoring single, Jacob Jarrell with a run-scoring double, and Andrew Ciufo, who delivered a clutch two-out single. With this offensive surge, the Tigers narrowed Wake’s lead to 10-8.
Key Moments and Drama
As the game progressed, the tension heightened. In the top of the sixth inning, Wake Forest extended their lead once more, thanks to Austin Hawke’s two-out, two-run double, making the score 12-8. However, Clemson refused to give in, responding with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Josh Paino’s two-out run-scoring single.The drama reached its peak when Jarrell launched a fly ball deep to right-center field, seemingly headed for a game-tying home run. But in a moment of brilliance, Wake Forest’s Javar Williams leaped over the fence to snatch the ball away, preserving the Demon Deacons’ lead and leaving Clemson fans in disbelief.
Pitching Highlights
On the mound, Luke Schmolke earned the victory for Wake Forest, pitching 1.2 innings in relief and improving his record to 3-0. Josh Gunther also played a crucial role, recording his fourth save of the season with 1.1 innings pitched. For Clemson, Ethan Darden suffered his first loss of the season, dropping to 3-1.
Looking Ahead
With the series tied, all eyes are now on the final matchup, scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. on the ACC Network. Both teams will be eager to claim the series victory in what has already proven to be an exhilarating showdown. Fans can expect another thrilling contest as Clemson seeks redemption and Wake Forest aims to build on their momentum.
