Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pose Tough Challenge for NC State Wolfpack

Experienced Demon Deacons lineup and talented pitching staff look to continue their strong season against a depleted Wolfpack squad.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:06pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, conveying the intensity and competitiveness of the matchup between NC State and Wake Forest.The Wolfpack faces a tough test against the experienced Demon Deacons, whose deep pitching staff and potent lineup could prove too much for NC State to overcome.Knoxville Today

The NC State Wolfpack baseball team will face a tough test this weekend as they travel to Winston-Salem to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The Demon Deacons have gotten off to a strong 25-13 start (9-9 in ACC play) and currently hold a #27 RPI ranking. With an experienced lineup and a pitching staff featuring several high-upside arms, Wake Forest will provide a formidable challenge for a Wolfpack team that will be without their Friday starter Ryan Marohn.

Why it matters

This series represents a crucial opportunity for NC State to pick up quality wins against a fellow ACC contender as they look to bolster their own NCAA Tournament resume. However, the absence of Marohn puts added pressure on the Wolfpack lineup to produce runs against a deep and talented Demon Deacons pitching staff.

The details

Wake Forest has been led by a balanced offensive attack, with seven regulars sporting on-base percentages over .400. Standouts include center fielder Javar Williams (.342/.473/.544, 21 SB), right fielder Luke Costello (.324/.474/.735, 12 HR), and third baseman Dalton Wentz (.310/.441/.627, 10 HR). On the mound, the Demon Deacons feature a trio of impressive sophomore starters in Chris Levonas (2.22 ERA, 39.4 K%), Troy Dressler (4.08 ERA, 36.3 K%), and Cam Bagwell (3.67 ERA, 18.3 K%). While NC State will be without Marohn, the Wolfpack will counter with their own talented arms in Heath Andrews, Cooper Consiglio, and TBD.

  • The three-game series will take place from Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19.
  • Friday's game is scheduled for 8:00pm and will be televised on the ACC Network.
  • Saturday's game is set for 4:00pm and will stream on ACCNX.
  • Sunday's series finale is slated for 1:00pm and will also be on ACCNX.

The players

Javar Williams

A junior center fielder for Wake Forest, Williams is a highly regarded prospect who is hitting .342/.473/.544 with 9 doubles, 7 home runs, and 21 stolen bases.

Luke Costello

A sophomore right fielder, Costello is having a breakout season, batting .324/.474/.735 with 12 home runs.

Dalton Wentz

The Demon Deacons' sophomore third baseman is a switch-hitter with impressive power, slugging .627 with 10 home runs.

Chris Levonas

Wake Forest's talented sophomore right-hander has been clocked over 100 mph and boasts a 2.22 ERA with a 39.4% strikeout rate.

Ryan Marohn

NC State's Friday starter who will be unavailable for this series due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to generate offense against a very talented Wake Forest pitching staff without our Friday starter. It's going to take a total team effort to come away with this series win.”

— Elliott Avent, NC State Head Coach

What’s next

After this series, NC State will travel to Georgia Tech for another crucial ACC matchup, while Wake Forest will host Louisville and then visit Duke to close out their regular season schedule.

The takeaway

This weekend's series against Wake Forest represents a significant challenge for the depleted NC State Wolfpack. However, if the Wolfpack lineup can step up and produce runs against the Demon Deacons' talented pitching staff, they have a chance to pick up a crucial series win that could boost their NCAA Tournament hopes.