The Wake Forest baseball team faced a tough outing in their first midweek game of the 2025 season, falling 4-0 to UNC Greensboro at UNCG Baseball Stadium on Tuesday night. Despite a strong pitching performance with 17 strikeouts, the Demon Deacons struggled offensively and couldn’t generate the runs needed to secure a victory.
Head coach Tom Walter emphasized the need for a better offensive approach moving forward, as 14 strikeouts and several defensive miscues proved costly in the loss.
Wake Forest’s Pitching Shines Despite Loss
One of the biggest positives for Wake Forest was its pitching staff, which combined for 17 strikeouts in the game. This marked the fourth time in five games that the Deacs recorded double-digit strikeouts, showcasing the strength of their pitching rotation.
Key Pitching Performances:
- Will Ray (Senior) – Struck out three batters over 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit.
- Zach Johnston (Reliever) – Recorded two strikeouts in the seventh inning to hold the deficit at 4-0.
- Josh Gunther (Sophomore) – Struck out the side in the eighth, making it two consecutive scoreless outings to start his season.
Despite the strong pitching, defensive mistakes and ten “free-nineties” (walks, errors, and wild pitches) allowed UNC Greensboro to capitalize and take control of the game.
Offensive Struggles Cost Wake Forest
Wake Forest’s offense struggled to find its rhythm, managing just two hits throughout the game.
Notable Hits:
- Chris Katz (Senior, LF): Registered Wake Forest’s first hit in the fifth inning, a 111-mph single to center field.
- Dalton Wentz (Freshman, 3B): Picked up his sixth hit of the season with a single up the middle in the eighth.
The Demon Deacons struck out 14 times, a statistic that Coach Walter described as “unacceptable.” He stressed the importance of improving their offensive approach and cutting down on strikeouts in future games.
Game Summary: How It Happened
First Inning:
- UNCG took an early 1-0 lead on an unearned run after a Wake Forest defensive error.
- Starter Matt Bedford settled in and stranded a two-out baserunner to limit the damage.
Third Inning:
- The Spartans extended their lead to 2-0 on a wild pitch.
Fourth Inning:
- Reliever Luke Schmolke worked out of a jam, keeping Wake Forest within striking distance.
Fifth Inning:
- Chris Katz recorded Wake Forest’s first hit of the night with a single to center.
- Dalton Wentz drew a walk, but the Deacs were unable to bring a run home.
- UNCG added two more runs, stretching their lead to 4-0.
Sixth to Eighth Innings:
- Will Ray (6th), Zach Johnston (7th), and Josh Gunther (8th) delivered strong relief performances, combining for six strikeouts while keeping UNCG scoreless.
Ninth Inning:
- Wake Forest was unable to mount a comeback, sealing the 4-0 loss.
Coach Walter’s Reaction
Head coach Tom Walter expressed his disappointment in the team’s offensive struggles and defensive mistakes:
“Obviously, it’s a disappointing effort. Give credit to UNCG; their two pitchers did a really good job on us. They stuffed it on us pretty good tonight. We had too many strikeouts, too many groundouts. Striking out 14 times tonight is just unacceptable. We have to bounce back and be ready to go on Friday.”
Looking Ahead: Wake Forest’s Next Challenge
The Demon Deacons will return to action on Friday, looking to bounce back and improve their offensive production. With their pitching staff showing strength, the focus will be on cutting down strikeouts and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
