Here's the story on today's game from Wake media relations. I'll be back in just a few minutes with comments from Wake coach Tom Walter.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest qualified for the ACC Tournament despite a 9-4 loss to No. 4-ranked Louisville at David F. Couch Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
The Demon Deacons (32-23, 13-17 ACC) clinched a top-10 spot in the standings thanks to NC State earning a series win over North Carolina on Saturday. Wake Forest awaits its Tuesday opponent pending the completion of a doubleheader between Georgia Tech and Boston College.
On offense, the Deacs were led by a standout performance from Gavin Sheets, who hit two solo homers in the first and eighth innings to account for his second multi-homer game of the season.
Stuart Fairchild also drove in two runs on a first-inning home run that got the Deacons on the board first.
On the mound, Wake Forest starter Drew Loepprich held the Cardinals' (46-10, 22-8 ACC) offense in check, firing 5.1 innings while allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out five.
After Loepprich induced a 3-6-1 double play to work out of a first inning jam, the Deacs answered with a three-run first behind the Fairchild and Sheets longballs.
The Cardinals manufactured a run in the third when Corey Ray reached on an infield single, took third on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored on Will Smith's bunt single.
Louisville struck again with two outs in the fourth, as Danny Rosenbaum's two-run shot tied the game at three.
Despite turning a 9-5-6 double play to record the first two outs of the seventh and clear the bases, Louisville rallied again and Brendan McKay's three-run homer gave the Cardinals a 6-3 lead the same inning.
The Cardinals tacked on three more - two unearned - in the eighth before Sheets added his ninth homer of the season and second of the day to make the score 9-4 in the ninth.
Right-hander Kyle Funkhouser recovered after allowing three first-inning runs, holding the Deacons scoreless over the next six as he struck out 10 and walked just one in 7.0 frames.
If Boston College wins game two of the doubleheader, Wake Forest will be the 10th seed and play Duke on Tuesday. If Georgia Tech wins, Wake Forest will be seeded ninth and play Georgia Tech. The ACC Tournament is scheduled for May 24-29 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest qualified for the ACC Tournament despite a 9-4 loss to No. 4-ranked Louisville at David F. Couch Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
The Demon Deacons (32-23, 13-17 ACC) clinched a top-10 spot in the standings thanks to NC State earning a series win over North Carolina on Saturday. Wake Forest awaits its Tuesday opponent pending the completion of a doubleheader between Georgia Tech and Boston College.
On offense, the Deacs were led by a standout performance from Gavin Sheets, who hit two solo homers in the first and eighth innings to account for his second multi-homer game of the season.
Stuart Fairchild also drove in two runs on a first-inning home run that got the Deacons on the board first.
On the mound, Wake Forest starter Drew Loepprich held the Cardinals' (46-10, 22-8 ACC) offense in check, firing 5.1 innings while allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out five.
After Loepprich induced a 3-6-1 double play to work out of a first inning jam, the Deacs answered with a three-run first behind the Fairchild and Sheets longballs.
The Cardinals manufactured a run in the third when Corey Ray reached on an infield single, took third on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored on Will Smith's bunt single.
Louisville struck again with two outs in the fourth, as Danny Rosenbaum's two-run shot tied the game at three.
Despite turning a 9-5-6 double play to record the first two outs of the seventh and clear the bases, Louisville rallied again and Brendan McKay's three-run homer gave the Cardinals a 6-3 lead the same inning.
The Cardinals tacked on three more - two unearned - in the eighth before Sheets added his ninth homer of the season and second of the day to make the score 9-4 in the ninth.
Right-hander Kyle Funkhouser recovered after allowing three first-inning runs, holding the Deacons scoreless over the next six as he struck out 10 and walked just one in 7.0 frames.
If Boston College wins game two of the doubleheader, Wake Forest will be the 10th seed and play Duke on Tuesday. If Georgia Tech wins, Wake Forest will be seeded ninth and play Georgia Tech. The ACC Tournament is scheduled for May 24-29 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
