Wake Forest Rallies Late to Beat Siena

Deacons score 4 runs in the 8th inning to take the series opener

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Wake Forest broke open a tied game in the 8th inning, scoring 4 runs to beat Siena 11-7 in the series opener on Friday night. The Deacons got key RBIs from Kade Lewis, Jimmy Keenan, Blake Schaaf and JD Stein in the 8th to take the lead. Troy Dressler (1-0) picked up the win with 2 scoreless innings of relief.

Why it matters

This was an important early-season win for Wake Forest as they look to build momentum and make a push for the NCAA Tournament. Siena was winless coming into the game, so the Deacons needed to take care of business at home against an overmatched opponent.

The details

Wake Forest broke a 7-7 tie in the 8th inning with 4 runs to take an 11-7 lead. Kade Lewis drove in a run with a single, Jimmy Keenan walked with the bases loaded, and Blake Schaaf and JD Stein were both hit by pitches to force in runs. Troy Dressler pitched the final 2 innings to earn the win for the Deacons. Earlier, Dalton Wentz and Luke Costello hit solo homers for Wake Forest, while Matt Conte and Jake Sparks homered for Siena.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • Wake Forest scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take the lead.

The players

Kade Lewis

A Wake Forest player who drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the 8th inning.

Troy Dressler

The Wake Forest pitcher who earned the win by pitching the final 2 scoreless innings.

Jake Sparks

A Siena player who hit a grand slam home run in the 3rd inning.

Tom Walter

The head coach of the Wake Forest baseball team.

Dalton Wentz

A Wake Forest player who hit 2 solo home runs in the game.

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What they’re saying

“It was also good to see Boston Torres and Luke Costello back in the lineup.”

— Tom Walter, Head Coach (News Release)

What’s next

The two teams will continue their 3-game series on Saturday and Sunday.

The takeaway

This was a gutsy comeback win for Wake Forest, who rallied late to beat a winless Siena team. The Deacons showed resilience and timely hitting to open the series on a positive note as they look to build momentum for the rest of the season.