KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On Saturday, May 31, the second day of games at the Knoxville regional occurred. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons defeated the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks 14-13.
Wake Forest Had the Long Ball Working Well – Wake Forest’s offense exploded for 16 hits and five home runs. Luke Costello hit two of the home runs. Dalton Wentz, Javar Williams, and Matt Conte also hit long balls in the game for the Demon Deacons.
Wake Forest leads the ACC in home runs this season with 104. They rank 11th overall in the country.
Costello commented on the team’s ability to hit home runs.
“We trust our coaching a lot,” the Wake Forest left fielder said. “Our approach is not really to go deep. We try to stay simple, stay right up the middle, and get lucky a few times. That is what happened today.”
Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter also commented on the home run hitting they have been doing inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“This is a hitter’s park [Lindsey Nelson Stadium]. The ball is a launching pad,” Walter said. “It is really good for our club because the couch [David F. Couch Ballpark] is similar.”
Wake Forest has hit eight home runs in their first two games in the Knoxville regional against both Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio).
Miami (Ohio) Showed No Quit and Went Down Fighting – The Demon Deacons struggled with pitching. None of the seven pitchers who made appearances went more than two innings. This was because the Miami (Ohio) offense had 15 hits and drew 10 walks, leading to their explosive offensive performance.
The explosive offense of the Redhawks all came to a head in the ninth inning. Down five runs in the bottom of the inning, Evan Applewick hit a two-run home run, and Blake Buzzeo got a base hit that scored two more runs.
Wake Forest right-hander Logan Lunceford came in to record the final two outs that ultimately put an end to the potential Miami (Ohio) comeback.
Walter gave the Redhawks credit for how hard they fought towards the end of the game.
“They played very well today,” Walter said. “They are used to winning, they have 35 wins this season. It’s the NCAA Tournament, so no one is going to quit.”
Up Next – Miami (Ohio) has officially been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, having lost their second game in Knoxville.
As for Wake Forest, they will play another elimination game tomorrow against the loser of the night cap in Lindsey Nelson Stadium between Tennessee and Cincinnati.
Photo: Dalton Wentz (1) runbs to second base during an NCAA baseball game against Cincinnati on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
