A Tough Finale in Durham
The Wake Forest baseball team concluded its regular season with a 7‑3 defeat at the hands of Duke on Saturday, ending a three‑game road series that had swung in the Deacons’ favor earlier in the week.
Junior Javar Williams anchored the offense with a 2‑for‑4 performance, while sophomore Dalton Wentz contributed a double and drove in his 48th RBI of the year. Freshman Boston Torres extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single, and a cascade of hits from Matt Conte, Andrew Costello, Blake Schaff and JD Stein kept the lineup humming.
The Deacons’ defense set the tone early, retiring the opening frame with a fly out and a lineout, and starter Cameron Bagwell struck out a batter to close the second inning. A two‑run burst in the fourth put Wake Forest ahead before Duke answered with a two‑run homer in the sixth, shifting momentum.
Duke’s rally culminated in a five‑run eighth inning that turned a 4‑2 lead into a 7‑3 advantage, sealing the final score. Head Coach Tom Walter expressed disappointment at the outcome but praised the team’s resilience and the energy displayed throughout the series.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 ACC Tournament
Despite the loss, the Deacons will carry a 7‑2 series win into the 2026 ACC Tournament, scheduled for May 19‑24 at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. The team is poised to compete against the conference’s elite as it seeks to extend its season beyond the regular slate.