An early stumble left Wake Forest with little margin for error Saturday. After falling in its regional opener for the third straight year, the No. 2-seeded Demon Deacons once again found themselves battling to stay alive. Read more: Wake Forest survives Binghamton, sends Bearcats home.
Mason Holloway got the start on the mound for the Bearcats. Luke Castello hit a ground ball to third base for the Demon Deacons and was called safe, but after a Binghamton challenge, the call was reversed, forcing a three-up, three-down inning.
Another early start for the Demon Deacons
The Demon Deacons starter Cameron Bagwell forced a similar inning to his counterparts. The game remained scoreless after the first.
The first hit of the game belonged to Wake Forest’s third baseman Dalton Wentz, a leadoff double, who then advanced on a wild pitch to third.
Wentz scored on a throwing error, allowing Cooke to reach first. WF took the lead 1-0.
DH Andrew Castello reached on another throwing error by the Bearcats’ defense. Second baseman Blake Schaaf collected an RBI single. Demon Deacons take a 2-0 lead.
Binghamton picked up a hit but no runs.
Wake’s Kade Lewis picked up a one out double, before scoring on a Wentz single to give them a 3-0 lead.
Binghamton was able to collect another hit but could not score a run after being forced into a double play.
Related: Demon Deacons rolling in Morgantown
Wake kept the offense hot with a run scored on a bunt to get the 4-0 advantage.
Costello collected an RBI single in the top of the fourth as well, to put the score at 5-0 and close the day out for Holloway.
Lewis joined the party with a 2 RBI double, as well as Catcher Matt Conte who swapped places with Lewis to take an 8-0 lead in a 5 run inning for Wake Forest.
In desperate need of runs across the plate, Binghamton posted another zero on the scoreboard.
Schaaf came to the plate in the top of the fifth and picked up a one-out double, good for his third hit of the day.
Shortstop JD Stein picked up his second hit of the day with an RBI single that scored Schaaf from second.
Javar Williams picked up a double and scored Stein, extending the lead to 10 runs. This forced a pitching change.
Bearcats claw back late
After four scoreless frames, Zach Anderson hit a lead-off home run for the Bearcats to cut the deficit to nine.
Following the home run, Stellrecht followed with a ground-rule double. Bearcats followed with the next two batters reaching base, to load them with no outs.
Stellrecht came around to score and cut the lead to eight, 10-2.
Wake Forest had a routine groundout in the works, but could not make the play. This loaded the bases again for the Bearcats.
The Demon Deacons got out of the inning, but not before Binghamton scored three. 10-3 was the score through five complete.
After a scoreless inning for Wake, the Bearcats had the bases loaded, but were able to get out of the Jam. The score remained 10-3 after six.
Binghamton was able to get out of the top of the seventh with a four-six-three double play.
Wake forced a three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the seventh. Score remained 10-3.
Javar Williams ended the two-inning scoreless drought for Wake, hitting a solo shot to right-center field. which extended their lead to 11-3
After a scoreless frame once again for the Bearcats, Wake came to the plate at the top of the ninth with a lead-off double by catcher Matt Conte.
Wake added one more insurance run, with an RBI single from Schaaf. That took the Demon Deacons lead to 12-3.
What’s next
Binghamton was unable to get anything at the bottom of the ninth. The loss ends the Bearcats’ season with a 31-22 overall record.
Now, Wake Forest advances to Sunday’s matinee against the loser of No. 3 Kentucky and No. 1 West Virginia, which is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
