Here's the game/series notes from Wake media relations:
The Match-Up
• Wake Forest hits the road for the first time in 2016, traveling to No. 21-ranked USC for a three-game set. It’s Wake Forest’s first three-game non-conference set against a Power Five foe since LSU in 2011.
Wake Forest Storylines
• Wake Forest is off to its best start since 2009 with a 4-0 record. The Demon Deacons most recently took down Davidson (7-4) after finishing the opening weekend with a perfect 3-0 record with victories against Georgetown (3-1), UMBC (10-8) and VMI (8-4).
• The Deacs took advantage of a strong bullpen effort and timely hitting in the win over Davidson. Wake Forest relievers combined to throw 6.2 innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits. The offense finished the game just 6-for-28, but were 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, including an RBI double by Jonathan Pryor and three-run go-ahead double by Will Craig.
• As the reigning ACC Player of the Year, Craig is off to another hot start in 2016. He has more RBIs through four games (11) than any of the top 10 RBI seasons in program history. Jon Palmieri, the program record-holder in 1999, had seven through four games.
• Wake Forest has cranked eight homers - two apiece from Craig and Johnny Aiello and one each from Mondou, Ben Breazeale, Kevin Conway and Gavin Sheets. The eight homers is the most through four games since 1999, a year in which the program set a record for homers in a season.
• Wake Forest is 4-0 for the first time since opening the year 6-0 in 2009.
The Opposition & Series History
• Wake Forest and USC have played twice all-time, with both meetings coming at Carolina Invitationals hosted by UNC. The Trojans claimed both contests, first in 1991 by a 16-5 score, and again in 1993, that time 13-1.
• The Trojans have claimed 12 national titles, most recently in 1998.
• USC is coming off back-to-back wins against Loyola Marymount and North Dakota after dropping the first two games of the set against North Dakota during opening weekend.
• A year ago, the Trojans made their first NCAA Tournament in a decade, falling in the Lake Elsinore Regional final to eventual College World Series champion Virginia.
On Deck
• Wake Forest returns home for games five straight days next week from Wednesday-Sunday, beginning with Mount St. Mary’s.
The Match-Up
• Wake Forest hits the road for the first time in 2016, traveling to No. 21-ranked USC for a three-game set. It’s Wake Forest’s first three-game non-conference set against a Power Five foe since LSU in 2011.
Wake Forest Storylines
• Wake Forest is off to its best start since 2009 with a 4-0 record. The Demon Deacons most recently took down Davidson (7-4) after finishing the opening weekend with a perfect 3-0 record with victories against Georgetown (3-1), UMBC (10-8) and VMI (8-4).
• The Deacs took advantage of a strong bullpen effort and timely hitting in the win over Davidson. Wake Forest relievers combined to throw 6.2 innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits. The offense finished the game just 6-for-28, but were 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, including an RBI double by Jonathan Pryor and three-run go-ahead double by Will Craig.
• As the reigning ACC Player of the Year, Craig is off to another hot start in 2016. He has more RBIs through four games (11) than any of the top 10 RBI seasons in program history. Jon Palmieri, the program record-holder in 1999, had seven through four games.
• Wake Forest has cranked eight homers - two apiece from Craig and Johnny Aiello and one each from Mondou, Ben Breazeale, Kevin Conway and Gavin Sheets. The eight homers is the most through four games since 1999, a year in which the program set a record for homers in a season.
• Wake Forest is 4-0 for the first time since opening the year 6-0 in 2009.
The Opposition & Series History
• Wake Forest and USC have played twice all-time, with both meetings coming at Carolina Invitationals hosted by UNC. The Trojans claimed both contests, first in 1991 by a 16-5 score, and again in 1993, that time 13-1.
• The Trojans have claimed 12 national titles, most recently in 1998.
• USC is coming off back-to-back wins against Loyola Marymount and North Dakota after dropping the first two games of the set against North Dakota during opening weekend.
• A year ago, the Trojans made their first NCAA Tournament in a decade, falling in the Lake Elsinore Regional final to eventual College World Series champion Virginia.
On Deck
• Wake Forest returns home for games five straight days next week from Wednesday-Sunday, beginning with Mount St. Mary’s.
