In a dramatic turn of events that stunned the crowd at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons toppled the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the NCAA Regional Final in Knoxville, clinching their place in the Super Regionals with a hard-fought 6–4 victory. The game was a showcase of grit, clutch hitting, and resilient pitching, as Wake Forest overturned expectations and sent the Vols packing in front of their home fans.
This matchup was more than just another game—it was a clash of two national title contenders. Tennessee entered the regional as the No. 1 overall seed, boasting one of the most potent offenses in college baseball and an elite pitching staff that had cruised through most of the season. But the Demon Deacons, who had struggled at times in ACC play, proved that they were built for postseason pressure. Let’s take a deeper look at how Wake Forest executed their game plan and stunned the college baseball world in Knoxville.
First Inning Statement: Wake Forest Strikes Early
Wake Forest wasted no time setting the tone. Facing Tennessee ace Drew Beam, who had been nearly untouchable in SEC play, the Deacs came out aggressive. Leadoff hitter Tommy Hawke worked a walk, and after a quick out, slugger Nick Kurtz delivered a booming double off the left-field wall. The energy shifted instantly. With runners in scoring position, Brock Wilken grounded out to score the first run, and Bennett Lee followed with an RBI single, giving Wake Forest a 2–0 lead.
Tennessee’s faithful crowd fell into a nervous silence. Wake Forest’s early success at the plate showed they weren’t intimidated by the No. 1 seed or the Knoxville environment.
Dominant Pitching from Wake’s Bullpen
Starter Josh Hartle was solid but not dominant, working into the fourth inning and holding Tennessee to two runs. The real heroes of the mound came from the bullpen. Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter made the gutsy decision to pull Hartle early after the Vols threatened in the fourth, bringing in senior right-hander Camden Minacci.
Minacci’s entrance turned the tide of the game. His slider was sharp, and he worked both sides of the plate effectively, keeping Tennessee’s big bats—Christian Moore, Blake Burke, and Billy Amick—off balance. He pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out five and giving his team a chance to hold the lead and build momentum.
Wake’s bullpen strategy was all about matchups, and they executed it to perfection. Every pitching change disrupted Tennessee’s rhythm and prevented the Vols from stringing together hits in key situations.
Tennessee’s Missed Opportunities
While Wake Forest made the most of their scoring chances, Tennessee couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most. In the fifth inning, the Vols loaded the bases with only one out after three straight singles from Dean Curley, Hunter Ensley, and Christian Scott. With the home crowd roaring, it seemed like a game-changing moment. But Minacci calmly struck out Moore and got Burke to fly out to center, ending the threat.
That sequence would come to define Tennessee’s struggles. The Vols left nine runners on base over the course of the game, including five in scoring position. Clutch hitting, a hallmark of Tennessee’s season, suddenly vanished in the face of Wake Forest’s cool composure.
Power and Precision: Wake Forest’s Offense Finds the Gaps
Wake Forest’s offense didn’t put up a massive home run barrage—something they’ve been known for—but instead relied on timely hitting and aggressive base running. In the top of the sixth, after Tennessee had cut the lead to 3–2, Wake Forest responded with a crucial two-run inning.
Danny Corona led off with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt moved him to second, Hawke returned to the plate and ripped a double into the right-center gap. The Vols’ reliever AJ Causey left a fastball up, and Hawke didn’t miss. One batter later, Kurtz drove in Hawke with a line-drive single to left, pushing the lead to 5–2.
That quick response showed the maturity of Wake Forest’s lineup. Every time Tennessee tried to claw back, the Deacons had an answer.
Tennessee’s Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short
Entering the bottom of the ninth, Wake Forest held a 6–3 lead. Coach Walter brought in freshman closer Cole Roland, a relatively untested but hard-throwing right-hander, to face the heart of Tennessee’s order. It was a risky move, and for a moment, it looked like it might backfire.
Blake Burke led off with a double, and two batters later, Amick walked. With two runners on and only one out, the tying run came to the plate. A sacrifice fly by Kavares Tears made it 6–4, but Roland struck out Cal Stark on three pitches to seal the game—and the regional title.
The Wake Forest dugout erupted, and silence again blanketed the stunned Knoxville crowd.
A Coach’s Masterclass: Tom Walter’s Strategy
Tom Walter deserves immense credit for how he managed the game. Known as one of college baseball’s most cerebral and respected coaches, Walter outmaneuvered his counterpart with sharp in-game decisions:
- Early hook for Hartle: Instead of letting the starter work out of a jam, Walter trusted his bullpen—and it paid off.
- Smart bullpen sequencing: By rotating between righties and lefties, Wake prevented Tennessee from getting comfortable.
- Aggressive baserunning: Wake took extra bases when it mattered and forced Tennessee into defensive miscues.
Walter also knew his players intimately and put them in positions to succeed. His trust in freshman Roland in the biggest moment of the season showed his commitment to his team’s depth.
Tennessee’s Season Ends in Disappointment
For Tennessee, the loss stings deeply. As the No. 1 overall seed, expectations were sky-high. Tony Vitello’s squad had dominated much of the season, and the Vols looked poised for another trip to Omaha. But baseball’s postseason is often cruel to favorites.
Offensively, the Vols lacked their usual punch. Their top power hitters—Moore, Burke, and Amick—combined for just three hits in the final. More crucially, they failed to deliver with runners in scoring position, going just 2-for-11 in those moments.
On the mound, Beam didn’t have his best stuff, and the bullpen was hit hard at inopportune times. Defensive lapses added to the frustration, including a dropped fly ball in the seventh that led to an insurance run for Wake.
Wake Forest’s Redemption Arc
Wake Forest entered the season with lofty expectations after a dominant 2023 campaign that ended in disappointment in Omaha. Injuries and inconsistency plagued the team during the regular season, leading many to believe they were primed for an early exit. But this win proved the Deacs were still a force on the national stage.
Nick Kurtz, one of the team’s emotional leaders, spoke after the game:
“Nobody believed in us. We were underdogs all weekend, but we believed in each other. This win was about heart.”
This regional win feels like redemption—not just for the players, but for the program. It signals that Wake Forest remains a top-tier contender, capable of beating the best on any stage.
What’s Next
With the win, Wake Forest advances to the Super Regionals, where they’ll face either Oregon State or East Carolina. Regardless of the opponent, the Deacons have momentum, pitching depth, and confidence on their side.
Tennessee, meanwhile, heads into a long offseason full of questions. Can Vitello retool the pitching staff? How will the team recover from such a shocking exit? The Vols are loaded with young talent, but the pressure of unmet expectations will linger into 2026.
The NCAA baseball postseason is one of the most unpredictable and exhilarating in sports. Wake Forest’s win over Tennessee proved that resilience, execution, and belief often matter more than seeding or star power. On a tense night in Knoxville, the Demon Deacons played like a team with nothing to lose—and came away with everything.
For Tennessee, the loss is a bitter pill. For Wake Forest, it’s a badge of honor. Baseball in June delivers drama like no other, and this regional final will go down as one of the sport’s most memorable upsets of the 2025 tournament.
