Wake Forest Drops Series Finale Against N.C. State in 10th Inning

Deacons lose tight game after winning first two games of the series

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:50pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic final moments of a baseball game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic final innings of the Wake Forest-N.C. State baseball series finale.Wake Forest Today

Wake Forest lost the series finale against N.C. State on Sunday, falling 6-5 in the 10th inning after leading 4-2 through seven innings. The Deacons had won the first two games of the series by a combined 40-8 score, but couldn't hold on in the finale despite a late rally in the 10th inning.

Why it matters

This loss drops Wake Forest to 27-14 overall and 11-10 in ACC play, while N.C. State improves to 26-14 and 9-9 in conference. The series result is an important data point as both teams jockey for position in the ACC standings and look to secure bids to the NCAA Tournament.

The details

N.C. State scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning to take a 6-4 lead. Wake Forest mounted a rally in the bottom half, with Luke Costello doubling and Kade Lewis driving him in, but the Deacons couldn't complete the comeback. Wake Forest starter Cameron Bagwell pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits before exiting the game after being hit on his non-throwing hand.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
  • Wake Forest won the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday.

The players

Kade Lewis

Wake Forest outfielder who had a two-run single in the first inning and a solo home run in the third.

JD Stein

Wake Forest freshman shortstop who hit a solo home run in the seventh inning.

Cameron Bagwell

Wake Forest starting pitcher who exited the game after 5 innings due to being hit on his non-throwing hand.

Ty Head

N.C. State player who led off the 10th inning with a walk and scored the go-ahead run.

Marcelo Harsch

Wake Forest relief pitcher who took the loss after allowing the two 10th inning runs.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, Sunday's game was a tight one. But the Deacons still led it 4-2 after seven innings.”

— Conor ONeill, Author

What’s next

Wake Forest will look to bounce back in its next ACC series, while N.C. State will try to build on this comeback win as it continues its conference schedule.

The takeaway

This loss is a tough one for Wake Forest, as they had the series win in hand but couldn't close it out. However, the Deacons have shown their ability to win tough ACC matchups, and this defeat should only motivate them to finish the regular season strong and secure a favorable postseason position.