WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest baseball team (4-0, 0-0 ACC) put on an offensive showcase to close out its opening weekend series, hammering four home runs and tallying six multi-RBI performances in a 24-6 rout of Marist (0-4, 0-0 MAAC) on Sunday afternoon.
With this historic offensive explosion, Wake Forest has now scored 10+ runs in its first four games of a season for the first time in program history. The four-game streak is also the longest such streak since the Deacs recorded five straight double-digit scoring games in 2023.
Game Recap: Wake Forest’s Offense Erupts
Early Scoring Outburst Sets the Tone
- 1st Inning:
- Kade Lewis kicked off the scoring with a two-run single, plating Marek Houston and Ethan Conrad.
- Wake Forest led 2-0 after one inning.
- 2nd Inning:
- Houston doubled in two runs and then scored on a Conrad RBI single.
- Chris Katz capped off the inning with a two-run double—his first hit of the season.
- Deacs extended their lead to 7-0.
- 3rd Inning:
- Jack Winnay launched a 403-foot grand slam to left-center, his first home run of the season.
- Wake Forest pushed its lead to 11-0.
Mid-Game Response & Continued Offensive Power
- 4th Inning:
- Marist scored three runs, but the Deacs responded with four runs in the bottom half.
- Austin Hawke hit a two-run double, while Houston added an RBI single.
- Lead extended to 15-3.
- 5th Inning:
- Hawke crushed a 352-foot two-run homer, his first of the season.
- Conrad followed with a 387-foot blast, his first home run as a Demon Deacon.
- Wake Forest pulled ahead 20-3.
Final Innings & Closing the Game
- 6th Inning:
- Katz hit his first home run of the season—a 413-foot solo shot.
- Wake Forest scored four more runs, finishing their scoring explosion at 24-3.
- 7th Inning:
- Marist added three late runs before senior Will Ray recorded the final out to seal the 24-6 victory.
Standout Performances
Offensive Leaders:
Marek Houston (Jr.)
- 3-for-3, 4 RBIs, 4 runs scored
- Leads team with 13 hits and 17 RBIs this season
- .765 batting average through four games
Chris Katz (Sr.)
- 3-for-5, 3 RBIs, first HR of the season
- Two doubles, 413-foot home run
Jack Winnay (Jr.)
- 403-foot grand slam (first HR of the season)
- 5 hits, 10 RBIs in four games
Austin Hawke (Jr.)
- 2-for-4, 4 RBIs, first HR of the season
- Two-run homer & two-run double
Ethan Conrad (Jr.)
- 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, first HR of the season
- 10-for-18 this season, 5 doubles, 13 RBIs
Kade Lewis (So.)
- Two-run single in first inning
- 8 hits, 6 RBIs in opening weekend
Pitching Highlights:
- Blake Morningstar (So.) – 3 scoreless innings, 4 strikeouts
- Troy Dressler (Fr.) – Collegiate debut, scoreless inning in 5th
- Zach Johnston (Jr.) – 10-pitch, 1-2-3 6th inning
- Will Ray (Sr.) – Closed out the game in the 7th
Key Stats & Records
Historic Offensive Start
- First time in program history scoring 10+ runs in the first four games of a season
- Longest 10+ run streak since 2023 (five straight games)
- Wake Forest has outscored opponents 78-21 this season
Dominant February Performance
- 29-1 record in February since 2022
- Outscoring opponents 375-84 in that stretch
Coach Tom Walter’s Thoughts
“I’m really pleased with our offense. We had quality at-bats all weekend and scored a lot of runs with two outs, which is huge. Our bullpen was solid all weekend, and we feel great about our position players. We need to answer some questions with starting pitching, but I like where we are right now.”
“Last year we swept Opening Weekend but then lost at UNCG, so I told the guys we need to be ready for Tuesday.”
What’s Next?
Next Game: Wake Forest travels to UNC Greensboro on Tuesday for a midweek matchup.
