After an unfortunate loss in Charlottesville, Va., this weekend, the Wake Forest Baseball Team looked to build back their confidence with a midweek match against Elon University on Tuesday.
Sophomore Duncan Marsten took the mound for the Deacs on Tuesday night. The California native hoped to get back on the right track after his recent, difficult showings against Florida State and Stanford. In those starts, Marsten gave up 13 earned runs over 6.1 innings pitched, compared to 23 strikeouts and zero earned runs over his first three starts.
This time out on the mound, Marsten showed flashes of his early-season success. Holding the Phoenix to only one hit through the 4.2 innings he was on the bump, Marsten struck out five of the 14 batters he faced. The right-hander held a no-hitter through the first 4.1 innings and gave the Deacs more than enough time to strike first behind the plate.
Followed by a strong bullpen effort, the Deacs allowed only one run across the plate throughout. Freshman Marcelo Harsh came in late and closed out the last two innings in season-high style. The New Jersey native struck out all five batters that stepped up to the plate, propelling the Deacs to the finish line.
Alongside their impressive pitching performances, the Deacs stayed strong when up to bat. Wake Forest came out hot, putting up two runs in the first, and increased their lead to 7-1 by the fifth. Adding four more runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Deacs walked off the game with a single by sophomore Luke Costello, giving them a run rule, 11-1 victory.
Wake Forest showed a team effort at the plate with eight of the starting nine batters recording a knock, and four Deacs achieving multi-hit nights. Second baseman Dalton Wentz crushed a two-run shot in the third and followed up with a two-run double in the seventh. The sophomore’s efforts carried the offense alongside freshman Andrew Costello, junior Kade Lewis and designated hitter sophomore Jackson Miller. All recorded two hits, and the group attained a shared six runs.
The Deacs recorded one-hitter shares in parallel with their last midweek game against Liberty, which they won by way of the run-rule once again. Tuesday’s victory extended Wake Forest’s midweek record to 5-1, and they’ll try to keep their momentum going into their Friday home game against the Golden Bears.
“We’re fresh for this weekend.” Coach Tom Walter said following the game. “Today was a good team win, and we’re ready to go this weekend against Cal.”
With a third ACC weekend series in a row coming up, Wake Forest is looking to change the outcome. The Deacs kick off Friday night with first pitch at 6 p.m. at the David F. Couch Ballpark. Sophomore Cam Bagwell is starting; he will look to rally behind last week’s shutout against Liberty and get the Deacs going early at home.
