Wake Forest Baseball Struggles Against Ranked Opponents

Demon Deacons drop three-game series against Florida State Seminoles

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:06am

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The Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team has hit a rough patch, dropping three straight games against the nationally-ranked Florida State Seminoles after a strong start to the season. The Deacs were outmatched in the series, getting shut out in the first two games before a late rally in the finale wasn't enough to avoid a 12-6 loss.

Why it matters

Wake Forest had been on a 15-game winning streak before this tough stretch against top competition. The losses have slowed the Demon Deacons' momentum and raised questions about their ability to compete with the ACC's elite teams as they look to make a postseason push.

The details

In the series opener, Wake Forest managed just two hits and struck out 11 times in a 10-0 loss. Saturday's game was closer, with Deacs pitcher Chris Levonas tossing six strong innings, but the offense was held to just one hit in a 2-0 defeat. The Demon Deacons finally got on the board in Sunday's finale, led by Javar Williams' four RBIs, but it wasn't enough to overcome an early 7-0 deficit in a 12-6 loss.

  • The Demon Deacons were on a 15-game winning streak before this series.
  • The three-game series against Florida State took place from March 13-15, 2026.

The players

Blake Morningstar

Wake Forest starting pitcher who allowed eight earned runs in four innings in the series opener.

Chris Levonas

Wake Forest pitcher who tossed six strong innings, allowing just two hits, in Saturday's 2-0 loss.

Javar Williams

Wake Forest outfielder who hit a home run and drove in four runs in the series finale.

Duncan Marsten

Wake Forest starting pitcher who struggled, allowing seven earned runs in three innings, in the series finale.

Troy Dressler

Wake Forest relief pitcher who struck out eight batters in four innings in the series finale.

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What they’re saying

“We must regroup and refocus as we head into the next stretch of our schedule. This was a tough series, but we'll learn from it and come back stronger.”

— Tom Walter, Wake Forest Head Baseball Coach

What’s next

The Demon Deacons will look to bounce back with a home game against Liberty on March 18 before traveling to face Virginia in a weekend series.

The takeaway

This series against a ranked opponent exposed some weaknesses in the Wake Forest lineup and pitching staff that they will need to address if they want to maintain their early-season success and compete for an ACC title.