The Deacs head to Lynchburg, Va. looking to extend its three-game non-conference winning streak.
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Wake Forest baseball team travels to Lynchburg, Va. for their fifth non-conference, midweek matchup of the 2021 season versus the Liberty Flames on Wednesday, April 7 at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
Wake Forest (10-11, 5-9 ACC) and Liberty (17-8, 5-1 ASUN) take the diamond in the first game of a home-and-home series this season at 4:00 p.m. live on ESPN+.
Currently, the Deacs have won their last trio of games against non-league foes. Over the span of the streak, Wake Forest holds a 23-10 scoring advantage.
Stay tuned to the Demon Deacons social media accounts (@WakeBaseball) for all in-game updates and information.
Midweek Magic
The Deacs have won their last three midweek games against non-conference opponents Charlotte, Elon and Appalachian State.
Lucas Costello and Shane Muntz each led the Deacs at the plate with five hits in that span. Additionally, four Deacs (Costello, Muntz, Adam Cecere and Brock Wilken) have hit two homers.
On the mound, Cole McNamee has earned two victories in 4.0 innings of action. Reed Mascolo picked up the third and final victory against Elon on March 23.
Batting Last Three Non-Conference Games
• .268 batting average
• 10 HRs
• 26 hits
• 23 runs
• 22 RBIs
• .639 slg %
Pitching Last Three Non-Conference Games
• .172 opponent batting average
• 10 runs allowed
• 16 hits allowed
• 1 HR allowed
• 10 RBIs allowed
• .258 opp. slg %
Rake Forest Returns?
Over the last eight games, Wake Forest has posted a record of 5-3 and has batted .257 at the plate, including 71 hits and 20 home runs.
During their 6-3 win in the series finale at Louisville, a trio of home runs from Adam Cecere, Chris Lanzilli and Brock Wilken marked the fifth game of the 2021 season that Wake Forest has hit at least three home runs.
In their last non-conference game against Appalachian State on March 30, the Deacs totaled a season-high 15 runs on 12 hits, including six home runs, the most in a game since 2017.
Wilken, Michael Ludowig and Shane Muntz hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth inning, the first time the Deacs hit three consecutive home runs since Wake Forest accomplished this feat against Division II C.W. Post on March 26, 1991.
Following his solo home run against the Mountaineers, Muntz smashed a ball out of Jim Patterson Stadium in the first two games against Louisville, the second time in his the catcher has gone at least three-consecutive games with a home run since he did so four times at the tail end of the 2019 season. .
Wilken Off To Historic Freshman Start
Through his first 21 career games, freshman Brock Wilken has smashed nine home runs to lead the Wake Forest bats and is currently tied for the most HRs by a true freshman in the entire nation.
His next home run will make the Valrico, Fla. native just the second Wake Forest batter this decade to reach the double-digit mark, joining Brendan Tinsman (2019) with 10 blasts.
Through his first 18 games, he posted the most home runs by a freshman Demon Deacon since Carlos Lopez in 2009. Additionally, Wilken needs nine more home runs in the Deacs' 25 remaining games to set the freshman record, which is currently held by Jamie D'Antona in 2001.
Seven of his nine home runs have come in Wake Forest's 10 wins. Additionally, he has posted a pair of two-home run games in the last four games.
100-Hit Club
Wake Forest is just one of two teams in the nation with four active players that have tallied at least 100 hits during their collegiate careers:
• Bobby Seymour- 186
• Chris Lanzilli- 167
• Michael Ludowig- 124
• Shane Muntz- 120
Seymour is set to become the 28th player in Wake Forest history to join the 200-Hit club as the junior is just 14 base hits away from the mark.
Jake Mueller (2016-19) was the last Deac to reach the mark with 203 base hits.
Michael Turconi is currently 8 hits from joining the 100-hit crew, as the sophomore has recorded 92 hits through 83 career games.
Milestone Watch- Chris Lanzilli
In Wake Forest's 6-3 victory over Louisville, Chris Lanzilli smashed a homerun to deep left center field to give the Deacs a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
Lanzilli's solo shot in the fifth marked the 36th home run of his career. Following his next homer, the Stoneham, Mass. native will enter the top-10 for most home runs in program history.
Currently, Will Craig (2014-16), Danny Borrell (1998-00) and Jason Kramer (1992-95) all sit in 10th with 37.
Last Time Out
Wake Forest secured a 6-3 victory in the series finale against No. 5 Louisville at Jim Patterson Stadium behind a scoreless effort on the mound from Rhett Lowder and home runs from Adam Cecere, Chris Lanzilli and Brock Wilken. The win was their fifth conference win of 2021.
Lowder tossed seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings to pick up his first collegiate victory, highlighted by five consecutive innings without allowing a hit.
Eric Adler came in and reeled in his fifth save of the season, slamming the door after recording the last five outs of the game.
In addition to the long ball, Lucas Costello pushed across the Deacs' other two runs with a single in the fifth and a fielder's choice in the ninth, both scoring Brendan Tinsman.
Opponent & Series History
Wake Forest and Liberty have met 31 times since their first meeting in 1977, with the Deacs holding a 21-8-2 advantage. Additionally, Wake Forest has won five of the last 10 matchups between the two teams .
In their last matchup on April 16, 2019, the Deacs picked up a 6-2 victory behind a great pitching performance as the staff held the Flames hitless in the final five innings of the matchup.
Offensively, Bobby Seymour went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs, while Shane Muntz and Michael Ludowig also reached base twice with a hit and a walk. Brendan Tinsman and Muntz both hit home runs in the win.
Flames Preview
Through 25 games, Liberty is at the top of the Atlantic Sun, registering a 17-8 record and a 5-1 mark in conference play.
The Flames have picked up key series wins that include sweeps over UCF, VCU, and North Alabama. In addition, Liberty has three wins against ACC foes North Carolina (two) and Virginia Tech.
On Deck
The Deacs return home for a ACC series at The Couch for the first time in three weeks as Wake Forest will play host to No. 23 Virginia Tech on April 9-11.
Wake Forest will now embark on an eight-game road trip, including a pair of conference series at Duke (April 16-18) and Clemson (April 23-25).
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Wake Forest baseball team travels to Lynchburg, Va. for their fifth non-conference, midweek matchup of the 2021 season versus the Liberty Flames on Wednesday, April 7 at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
Wake Forest (10-11, 5-9 ACC) and Liberty (17-8, 5-1 ASUN) take the diamond in the first game of a home-and-home series this season at 4:00 p.m. live on ESPN+.
Currently, the Deacs have won their last trio of games against non-league foes. Over the span of the streak, Wake Forest holds a 23-10 scoring advantage.
Stay tuned to the Demon Deacons social media accounts (@WakeBaseball) for all in-game updates and information.
Midweek Magic
The Deacs have won their last three midweek games against non-conference opponents Charlotte, Elon and Appalachian State.
Lucas Costello and Shane Muntz each led the Deacs at the plate with five hits in that span. Additionally, four Deacs (Costello, Muntz, Adam Cecere and Brock Wilken) have hit two homers.
On the mound, Cole McNamee has earned two victories in 4.0 innings of action. Reed Mascolo picked up the third and final victory against Elon on March 23.
Batting Last Three Non-Conference Games
• .268 batting average
• 10 HRs
• 26 hits
• 23 runs
• 22 RBIs
• .639 slg %
Pitching Last Three Non-Conference Games
• .172 opponent batting average
• 10 runs allowed
• 16 hits allowed
• 1 HR allowed
• 10 RBIs allowed
• .258 opp. slg %
Rake Forest Returns?
Over the last eight games, Wake Forest has posted a record of 5-3 and has batted .257 at the plate, including 71 hits and 20 home runs.
During their 6-3 win in the series finale at Louisville, a trio of home runs from Adam Cecere, Chris Lanzilli and Brock Wilken marked the fifth game of the 2021 season that Wake Forest has hit at least three home runs.
In their last non-conference game against Appalachian State on March 30, the Deacs totaled a season-high 15 runs on 12 hits, including six home runs, the most in a game since 2017.
Wilken, Michael Ludowig and Shane Muntz hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth inning, the first time the Deacs hit three consecutive home runs since Wake Forest accomplished this feat against Division II C.W. Post on March 26, 1991.
Following his solo home run against the Mountaineers, Muntz smashed a ball out of Jim Patterson Stadium in the first two games against Louisville, the second time in his the catcher has gone at least three-consecutive games with a home run since he did so four times at the tail end of the 2019 season. .
Wilken Off To Historic Freshman Start
Through his first 21 career games, freshman Brock Wilken has smashed nine home runs to lead the Wake Forest bats and is currently tied for the most HRs by a true freshman in the entire nation.
His next home run will make the Valrico, Fla. native just the second Wake Forest batter this decade to reach the double-digit mark, joining Brendan Tinsman (2019) with 10 blasts.
Through his first 18 games, he posted the most home runs by a freshman Demon Deacon since Carlos Lopez in 2009. Additionally, Wilken needs nine more home runs in the Deacs' 25 remaining games to set the freshman record, which is currently held by Jamie D'Antona in 2001.
Seven of his nine home runs have come in Wake Forest's 10 wins. Additionally, he has posted a pair of two-home run games in the last four games.
100-Hit Club
Wake Forest is just one of two teams in the nation with four active players that have tallied at least 100 hits during their collegiate careers:
• Bobby Seymour- 186
• Chris Lanzilli- 167
• Michael Ludowig- 124
• Shane Muntz- 120
Seymour is set to become the 28th player in Wake Forest history to join the 200-Hit club as the junior is just 14 base hits away from the mark.
Jake Mueller (2016-19) was the last Deac to reach the mark with 203 base hits.
Michael Turconi is currently 8 hits from joining the 100-hit crew, as the sophomore has recorded 92 hits through 83 career games.
Milestone Watch- Chris Lanzilli
In Wake Forest's 6-3 victory over Louisville, Chris Lanzilli smashed a homerun to deep left center field to give the Deacs a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
Lanzilli's solo shot in the fifth marked the 36th home run of his career. Following his next homer, the Stoneham, Mass. native will enter the top-10 for most home runs in program history.
Currently, Will Craig (2014-16), Danny Borrell (1998-00) and Jason Kramer (1992-95) all sit in 10th with 37.
Last Time Out
Wake Forest secured a 6-3 victory in the series finale against No. 5 Louisville at Jim Patterson Stadium behind a scoreless effort on the mound from Rhett Lowder and home runs from Adam Cecere, Chris Lanzilli and Brock Wilken. The win was their fifth conference win of 2021.
Lowder tossed seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings to pick up his first collegiate victory, highlighted by five consecutive innings without allowing a hit.
Eric Adler came in and reeled in his fifth save of the season, slamming the door after recording the last five outs of the game.
In addition to the long ball, Lucas Costello pushed across the Deacs' other two runs with a single in the fifth and a fielder's choice in the ninth, both scoring Brendan Tinsman.
Opponent & Series History
Wake Forest and Liberty have met 31 times since their first meeting in 1977, with the Deacs holding a 21-8-2 advantage. Additionally, Wake Forest has won five of the last 10 matchups between the two teams .
In their last matchup on April 16, 2019, the Deacs picked up a 6-2 victory behind a great pitching performance as the staff held the Flames hitless in the final five innings of the matchup.
Offensively, Bobby Seymour went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs, while Shane Muntz and Michael Ludowig also reached base twice with a hit and a walk. Brendan Tinsman and Muntz both hit home runs in the win.
Flames Preview
Through 25 games, Liberty is at the top of the Atlantic Sun, registering a 17-8 record and a 5-1 mark in conference play.
The Flames have picked up key series wins that include sweeps over UCF, VCU, and North Alabama. In addition, Liberty has three wins against ACC foes North Carolina (two) and Virginia Tech.
On Deck
The Deacs return home for a ACC series at The Couch for the first time in three weeks as Wake Forest will play host to No. 23 Virginia Tech on April 9-11.
Wake Forest will now embark on an eight-game road trip, including a pair of conference series at Duke (April 16-18) and Clemson (April 23-25).
