Wake Forest hands Florida State baseball first shutout loss since March
Wake Forest has earned the nickname "Rake Forest" this season because of its potent offense.
The nationally-ranked No. 1 Demon Deacons outhit Florida State 14-4 and powered their way to a 10-0 victory over the host Seminoles Friday in an eight-inning run-rule win before a Howser Stadium crowd of 4,041. Wake Forest pinned FSU with its first shutout defeat since an 11-0 defeat to Miami March 31.
Both teams agreed to the 10-run rule for all three games this weekend.
The loss snaps the Seminoles' four-game winning streak and makes their hope to reach ACC Tournament qualification a little more challenging.
"[Rhett] Lowder was exceptional. He had multiple fastballs in play and had very command of the slider/change-up. Everything in any count," Seminoles head coach Link Jarrett said. "That's why he's [Lowder] pitching the way he is in terms of numbers. They're [Wake Forest] a physical team and balanced."
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Task of matching intensity
FSU did start the game off hot as right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister struck out two of three batters in the top of the first and DeAmez Ross, who has been hot these past four games, had a lead-off single and found his way to third.
However, the Demon Deacons readjusted in the second, seeing Brock Wilken triple in his first at-bat and scoring on a flyout. Marek Houston then doubled to bring in one more, building up a two-run lead. The gates opened in the fourth as Wake Forest scored three runs off a homer from Danny Corona. Brock Wilken homered again for the Demon Deacons in the seventh.
Wake Forest's performance at home plate was matched on the mound as Rhett Lowder pitched seven of eight innings for the win. He allowed no runs on four hits, walking none, and striking out six. Coming into the game, he boasted an ERA of 1.67.
"I've seen guys like him [Lowder]," Jarrett said. "Some of the Cal State Fullerton guys in the mid-2000s. There are some dynamic arms in the SEC who you have to deal with on back-to-back Friday nights...You do see it, but I don't know if you'll see better command of above-average, secondary pitches than that. The way to stay in it is you hope your starting pitcher can equal that."
The Seminoles utilized four arms, with Baumeister picking up the loss. He allowed five runs, on eight hits, walking one and striking out four over four innings. Treyton Rank led the offense going 2-for-3 at the plate. Cam Smith and Ross had the two other FSU hits.
Heading into the weekend
The Seminoles were held scoreless for the first time in 42 days when it lost to then No. 23 Miami, 11-0. In the race for the final spot in the ACC Tournament, nothing has changed since Tuesday. FSU is still three games back of Louisville and Pittsburgh. The Cardinals lost to Virginia. 15-5, and the Panthers lost to Miami, 9-8.
Two wins by the Seminoles against the Demon Deacons in this series would not only give them the win but could put them a game back of the No. 12 spot.
The first pitch Saturday has been bumped up to 12 p.m. and Sunday is still 1 p.m.
"[Conner] Whittaker needs to do similar things like Lowder," Jarrett said. "Whittaker has the good change-up and slider and needs to move the fastball around. That gives you the opportunity, which we've seen J-Bomb [Baumeister] do. He didn't quite have it today, but that helps."
"The lefty they're going to run out there is really good. We have to match up with Whit being good and we have to defend in every spot on that diamond to help him."
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics and prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State baseball shutout in game 1 of Wake Forest series
