In a dramatic non-conference showdown brimming with College World Series-level intensity, Wake Forest defeated No. 14 Tennessee 7–6 in a midseason game that served as both a statement win and a critical tune-up for the postseason ahead. The Deacons and Volunteers, two of the sport’s premier programs, battled through nine tension-packed innings marked by timely hitting, clutch pitching, and just enough drama to make it feel like June in Omaha.
The win is a significant morale boost for Wake Forest, who have battled inconsistency during the season but showed flashes of their potential by outlasting a top-tier SEC squad. Tennessee, meanwhile, will have to regroup quickly as SEC play looms large and the margin for error narrows.
A Game of Momentum Swings
Wake Forest didn’t waste any time establishing themselves offensively. In the top of the first inning, the Demon Deacons struck with a pair of doubles from Nick Kurtz and Seaver King, followed by a sharply hit single from Brock Wilken, giving Wake Forest an early 2–0 lead. The Deacs looked focused at the plate, jumping on fastballs and challenging Tennessee’s starting pitcher, Zander Sechrist, from the opening pitch.
Tennessee answered in the bottom of the second with a long solo homer to left field by Christian Moore, who continues to serve as the offensive sparkplug for the Volunteers. Moore, who has been among the most reliable hitters in the SEC this season, turned on a 94-mph fastball and crushed it 427 feet, cutting Wake’s lead in half.
The third inning brought more fireworks, this time from Wake’s Danny Corona, who launched a two-run homer off Sechrist to extend the Demon Deacons’ lead to 4–1. Corona, batting out of the six-hole, has quietly become one of the more dangerous bats in the Wake Forest lineup. His blast energized the visiting dugout and quieted an otherwise raucous Knoxville crowd.
Tennessee wouldn’t go away easily. In the bottom of the fourth, the Vols mounted a rally sparked by back-to-back singles from Blake Burke and Dean Curley, followed by a sacrifice fly from Billy Amick. A sharply hit grounder through the left side by Hunter Ensley made it 4–3, and suddenly Wake’s early lead had evaporated.
Wake Forest’s Bullpen Holds the Line
After cruising through the first few innings, Wake Forest starter Michael Massey began to show signs of fatigue in the fifth. His command wavered and he issued a leadoff walk to Cal Stark. That prompted head coach Tom Walter to call upon sophomore reliever Camden Minacci, a hard-throwing right-hander with closer-level stuff.
Minacci would go on to play a critical role, delivering 2.1 innings of shutout baseball in what proved to be the turning point of the game. His ability to strand inherited runners and navigate through the middle of Tennessee’s order with poise under pressure was one of the most impressive performances of the night.
Minacci fanned four batters and only allowed one hit during his stretch, giving Wake Forest the breathing room it needed to mount another offensive push.
Tennessee’s Costly Defensive Miscues
A critical moment came in the top of the sixth, when a pair of defensive lapses from Tennessee helped Wake Forest plate two unearned runs. With runners on first and third and two outs, a routine ground ball to shortstop was mishandled by Dean Curley, allowing one run to score. Moments later, a passed ball skipped by catcher Cal Stark, bringing in another tally.
Suddenly, the Demon Deacons led 6–3.
Although Wake Forest’s offense did well to put the ball in play, Tennessee’s defense faltered at inopportune times. The uncharacteristic mistakes loomed large as the Vols would later mount a comeback attempt that fell just short.
Ninth Inning Drama
After trading scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, Wake Forest added a crucial insurance run in the top of the ninth via a sacrifice fly from Justin Johnson, scoring pinch runner Lucas Costello. That run, which extended Wake’s lead to 7–4, ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tennessee didn’t go quietly.
Facing Wake closer Cole Roland, the Volunteers staged one last surge. After a leadoff walk and a bloop single, Burke delivered a double into the right-center gap, driving in one. A fielder’s choice groundout scored another, making it 7–6 with one out and the tying run on second.
But Roland, displaying the veteran resolve expected from an ACC closer, bore down. He struck out Moore on a perfectly placed breaking ball and induced a routine flyout from Amick to end the game.
Postgame Reactions
Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter praised his team’s toughness and resilience after the game.
“That’s a good ball club we just beat,” Walter said. “We’ve been looking for that signature win to prove to ourselves we belong among the best, and tonight we got it. We had great at-bats, played clean defense for the most part, and our bullpen was outstanding.”
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello, on the other hand, took a more critical tone.
“We didn’t play to our standard defensively, and that’s what hurt us tonight,” Vitello said. “Give Wake credit—they made the plays we didn’t. But we have to clean up those mistakes if we’re going to make a deep run in June.”
Key Performers
Wake Forest
- Nick Kurtz: 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 doubles
- Danny Corona: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs
- Camden Minacci: 2.1 IP, 4 K, 1 H, 0 R
- Cole Roland (Save): 1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Tennessee
- Christian Moore: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs
- Blake Burke: 2-for-5, double, 1 RBI
- Zander Sechrist (L): 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Implications Moving Forward
This win gives Wake Forest a major boost in the RPI and could vault them higher in the national rankings. More importantly, it builds confidence that this team can beat elite competition. The Demon Deacons have faced questions all season about whether they can return to their 2023 form, and this performance suggests they’re peaking at the right time.
For Tennessee, the loss isn’t catastrophic, but it’s a reminder of how thin the margin can be against top-level opponents. Their pitching staff has been reliable all season, but the bullpen looked shaky in spots, and the defensive miscues were costly.
Eye on Omaha
Both Wake Forest and Tennessee are likely Omaha-bound if they can sustain their current levels of play. Tuesday night’s thriller was a potential College World Series preview, with both teams showcasing lineups full of professional prospects and arms capable of locking down elite hitters.
As May turns to June, the road to the College World Series will only intensify. Wake Forest’s win on the road over a top-15 team gives them not just a key victory on paper but a psychological edge—proof that when the stakes are high, they can deliver.
The 7–6 win was more than just another notch in the win column for Wake Forest. It was a gritty, clutch-filled performance that validated their talent, toughness, and postseason hopes. Tennessee, despite the loss, showed enough fight to remain firmly in the national conversation. But for one night in Knoxville, the Deacons roared loudest.
Both teams will return to their respective conference schedules with lessons learned and postseason dreams alive. If this midseason matchup was a taste of what’s to come in June, college baseball fans are in for a thrilling ride.
