Chris Lanzilli led the Deacs with four-RBIs on a pair of hits
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- In the first-ever Fight Against Pediatric Cancer Game at David F. Couch Ballpark, Wake Forest took a dramatic second game of the series against NC State on Saturday, taking a lead in the first inning and never relinquishing it, withstanding an onslaught of Wolfpack runs to take the game 14-11 and set up a rubber match on Sunday.
The Deacs (15-21, 7-18 ACC) powered themselves to a win behind a seven-run second inning and a five-fun eighth inning, scoring 12 of their 14 runs in the two frames. Five Deacs scored at least two runs in the game and every spot in the batting order scored at least one run.
The Wolfpack (21-14, 13-13 ACC) were able to keep pace thanks to 11 hits of their own, but struggled with their command on the mound, issuing walks 10 different times to Demon Deacon batters. Seven of those walked Wake Forest batters came around to score for the Deacs.
Chris Lanzilli led the Deacs at the plate with four RBIs. Rhett Lowder earned his second career win on the mound with five innings of work to start the game. Eric Adler earned his sixth save of the season with 1.2 innings of scoreless work split across two appearances after a brief stint in left field to start the ninth inning.
How It Happened
- Rhett Lowder began the game with a perfect three up, three down inning, including a pair of strikeouts.
- The Deacs struck first as Lucas Costello crossed home following a RBI-fielder's choice from Brock Wilken with one out.
- Bobby Seymour lined a grounder up the middle to advance Wilken to second. The inning ended after a strikeout and a fly out to left field.
- The Deacs held their 1-0 lead after the top of the second as Lowder induced a pair of pop ups and a ground out.
- The Wolfpack knocked in their first base hit in the inning.
- A seven run two-out rally in the second featuring a home run, two doubles and four walks extended the Deacs' lead to 8-0.
- Brendan Tinsman and Michael Ludowig walked to open up the inning, and scored after a two-RBI double by Michael Turconi.
- The Deacs loaded the bases after Brock Wilken and Seymour were walked. The duo of Wilken and Turconi were plated thanks to a double from Chris Lanzilli.
- Shane Muntz capped off the rally with a three-run big fly to left field.
- Lowder recorded his third strikeout and kept the Wolfpack off the scoreboard for the third-straight inning to open the game.
- With two outs, NC State reached on an error.
- Pierce Bennett tallied a one-out single in the third, but the Deacs were unable to add to their 8-0 lead.
- NC State added their first runs of the game on a two-run home run to left field, making it an 8-2 ballgame after the top of the fourth
- After the Deacs went down in order in the bottom of the fourth, Lowder pitched a three up, three down fifth inning with a fly out, line out and foul out to third base to end the top of the fifth.
- The Deacs tacked on another run and extended their lead to 9-2 after the home half of the fifth inning. Muntz (leadoff double) scored following a SAC fly from Michael Ludowig.
- NC State closed the gap with a five-run sixth inning, making it a 9-7 ballgame. Hunter Furtado replaced Camden Minacci with one out and got the Deacs out of the jam with a strikeout and foul out.
- After the Deacs were retired in order to end the sixth, NC State made it a one-run ball game (9-8) after a hit by pitch, walk and two stolen bases.
- Furtado forced the opening two outs of the inning before Eric Adler came in and ended the frame with a fly out.
- After the Deacs were set down in order in the bottom of the seventh, Adler returned to the mound in the top of the eighth and tossed a scoreless frame to preserve Wake Forest's 9-8 lead.
- A tag at home plate ended the inning as Seymour fielded a ground ball and got the throw in time to Tinsman at the plate.
- The Deacs added five insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 14-8 lead into the final frame.
- After Ludowig walked and Bennett took base via hit by pitch, Lucas Costello bunted for a single. As NC State pitcher Dalton Feeney pivoted to try to get Ludowig at third, the Wolfpack righty threw the ball away, plating Ludowig and Bennett on the error and giving the Deacs an 11-8 lead.
- After another bunt single, this off the bat of Michael Turconi, and a Brock Wilken walk, Bobby Seymour also drew a base on balls to score Costello, stretching the lead to 12-8.
- Chris Lanzilli followed up with a two-RBI single to center to push the lead to 14-8.
- The Deacs would reload the bases with two outs, but couldn't push across a final run after Bennett flied out to end the inning.
- Eric Adler moved to left field to start the top of the ninth inning, preserving his ability to reenter the game as a pitcher. Cole McNamee set down two Wolfpack batters, before being relieved by Brennen Oxford.
- After NC State plated three runs, Adler returned to the mound and struck out the final batter looking to earn the one-out save and seal the win, 14-11.
"First and foremost, what a great day with Alexius Dawson and her family. Just really thrilled that she was here, and then to double it up to have Barb Walker get recognized, that made it extra special.
"We needed a win and we got it. It wasn't the prettiest win. We're up 9-0, and the only way you lose a 9-0 lead is walks and errors, and we had a little bit of both. Give credit to NC State, they're a good offensive team and they kept coming. I was really pleased with Hunter (Furtado). (He) came in and got four big outs. Then Eric Adler comes in and gets five big outs. Then we had to come back to him. It was a gamble. We're trying to save them for tomorrow. I knew it was a risk, but we're trying to win the series at this point in the year. Winning one out of three at home isn't going to get us where we need to be, so we wanted to have Eric available tomorrow and save some of his pitch count. The offense did just enough. The big plays were the two bunts there in the last inning to help us spread the lead. We got two big hits from Chris Lanzilli. 0-2 double down the line and then (Shane) Muntz's homerun. It was good to get it from different spots in the lineup today."
In the Spotlight
Chris Lanzilli led the Deacs with four-RBIs at the plate on Saturday. His two-RBI double in the second inning and two-RBI single in the eighth inning helped sustain the Deacs' two largest rallies of the afternoon. It was the Stoneham, Mass. native's 12th multi-hit game this season.
On Deck
The teams hit the field in the series finale on Sunday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Wake Forest continues the home stand with a pair of non-conference games next week, beginning with Liberty at 3:00 p.m. on ACC Network.
