KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On Sunday, June 1, day three of games in the Knoxville regional began with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Cincinnati Bearcats playing in an elimination game. The Demon Deacons won 10-3 and knocked Cincinnati out of the NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest Stays Alive with Dominant 10-3 Win Over Cincinnati – The Demon Deacons won their second game in the Knoxville regional as they defeated Cincinnati 10-3.
Wake Forest starter Matthew Dallas delivered a huge start for his team. In 7 2/3 innings, he allowed just three earned runs while striking out four Cincinnati hitters. The three earned runs he allowed all came in the eighth inning as he was pitching a shutout through seven innings.
Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter was thrilled with the start Dallas had in an elimination game.
“That’s as good a pitching performance as I’ve ever seen when it mattered,” said Walter. “It matches what Brett Lowder did in Omaha to give us a chance to win that game, and that’s why we brought this guy to Wake Forest.”
Dallas was a former pitcher with the Tennessee Volunteers during their national championship season in 2024.
Shortstop Marek Houston led the way in hitting with three hits and four RBI. Two of his hits were a double and a home run.
Wake Forest Takes Down Tennessee 7-6 to Force Winner-Take-All Game for the Knoxville Regional – With the win, Wake Forest had a chance to play Tennessee with a chance to win the Knoxville regional.
Despite two RBI hits early on from Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer, Wake Forest was not fazed as the offense continued to stay hot.
Marek Houston hit a solo home run and Kade Lewis, Jack Winnay, and Dalton Wentz all had RBI hits.
After three innings, Wake Forest had a 4-2 lead.
The home run onslaught continued from there for both teams. Javar Williams hit a two-run home run for Wake Forest to extend their lead out to 6-2.
However, Tennessee stormed back with two two-run home runs from Fischer and freshman Levi Clark.
This made it a 6-6 game heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
Wake Forest Puts Together Great Offensive Ninth Inning to Secure Win over Tennessee – The scoring fizzled out until the bottom of the ninth inning. Wake Forest had a chance to walk off the game as they were the home team in the matchup.
The top of the order was up for the Demon Deacons as Matt Scannell was walked. Houston followed that up with a base hit. Kade Lewis laid down a brilliant bunt play to load the bases with no outs in the inning.
Jack Winnay then came to the plate and drew a walk that led to Wake Forest winning the game 7-6.
Walter commented on Winnay, as well as his teammate Houston, after Winnay’s game-winning walk and Houston’s two big games.
“For us to win and advance out of a regional, our good players have to play good. Marek and Jack are our best players. Where those guys go, we go. They are the heart and soul of this ball club.”
Up Next – Tennessee and Wake Forest will now play on Monday, June 2, to decide who moves on to the super regional round in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
The winner of this game will play the winner of the Fayetteville regional in the next round.
Photo: Marek Houston (7) connects for a hit during an NCAA baseball game against Cincinnati on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
