A Johnny Aiello grand slam in the first inning proved to be the difference as Wake Forest knocked off its second top-15 foe in as many weekends.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest clinched a series win over a top-15 ACC foe for the second-straight weekend, beating No. 11 Louisville, 6-3, at David F. Couch Ballpark on Sunday.
Johnny Aiello blasted a first-inning grand slam and Colin Peluse pitched into the eighth inning to lead the Demon Deacons (9-11, 4-2 ACC) to their 10th ACC series win in their last 12 weekends dating back to 2017.
The first five Deacs reached base, starting with a DJ Poteet walk, Nick DiPonzio single, Jake Mueller hit-by-pitch and a 411-foot grand slam by Aiello to put the Deacs in front, 4-0.
The Cardinals (16-4, 3-3 ACC) got on the board with a run-scoring groundout in the fourth to cut the margin to 4-1, but Wake Forest plated two more in the sixth.
Chase Mascolo walked and Poteet doubled, then a run-scoring passed ball and a Mueller RBI single pushed the lead to 6-1.
Louisville scored runs in the seventh and eighth, but for the second time of the weekend, Rayne Supple came in to close the door without allowing a baserunner as he earned his third save of the season.
Peluse finished with three runs allowed in 7.2 innings on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts, earning the win to improve to 3-0. Louisville starter Riley Thompson took the loss, surrendering four runs in 2.0 innings.
For the Deacs, Mueller reached base all four times with two singles and two HBPs, while Nick DiPonzio went 2-for-4.
The series win was Wake Forest's first in four tries against Louisville. Head coach Tom Walter now has series wins over every ACC foe during his tenure.
Wake Forest hits the road for four straight, traveling to App State for a 5 p.m. Tuesday game before heading to Notre Dame next weekend.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest clinched a series win over a top-15 ACC foe for the second-straight weekend, beating No. 11 Louisville, 6-3, at David F. Couch Ballpark on Sunday.
Johnny Aiello blasted a first-inning grand slam and Colin Peluse pitched into the eighth inning to lead the Demon Deacons (9-11, 4-2 ACC) to their 10th ACC series win in their last 12 weekends dating back to 2017.
The first five Deacs reached base, starting with a DJ Poteet walk, Nick DiPonzio single, Jake Mueller hit-by-pitch and a 411-foot grand slam by Aiello to put the Deacs in front, 4-0.
The Cardinals (16-4, 3-3 ACC) got on the board with a run-scoring groundout in the fourth to cut the margin to 4-1, but Wake Forest plated two more in the sixth.
Chase Mascolo walked and Poteet doubled, then a run-scoring passed ball and a Mueller RBI single pushed the lead to 6-1.
Louisville scored runs in the seventh and eighth, but for the second time of the weekend, Rayne Supple came in to close the door without allowing a baserunner as he earned his third save of the season.
Peluse finished with three runs allowed in 7.2 innings on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts, earning the win to improve to 3-0. Louisville starter Riley Thompson took the loss, surrendering four runs in 2.0 innings.
For the Deacs, Mueller reached base all four times with two singles and two HBPs, while Nick DiPonzio went 2-for-4.
The series win was Wake Forest's first in four tries against Louisville. Head coach Tom Walter now has series wins over every ACC foe during his tenure.
Wake Forest hits the road for four straight, traveling to App State for a 5 p.m. Tuesday game before heading to Notre Dame next weekend.
