Wake Forest Snaps ACC Losing Streak with Blowout Win Over Virginia

No. 24 Demon Deacons dominate No. 9 Cavaliers to even series

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:04pm

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The No. 24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons snapped their four-game ACC losing streak with a decisive 11-3 victory over the No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. Led by a strong pitching performance from Chris Levonas and an explosive offensive outburst in the third inning, Wake Forest evened the three-game series against their conference rival.

Why it matters

This win is a critical bounce-back for Wake Forest, which had lost its last four ACC games. The Demon Deacons needed to rebound against the highly ranked Cavaliers to keep their conference title hopes alive. The series will be decided in the rubber match on Sunday.

The details

Levonas held the high-powered Virginia offense in check, allowing just three runs on four hits while striking out five over 5 innings. After falling behind 2-1, Wake Forest erupted for 8 runs in the 3rd inning to take control of the game. Javar Williams, Dalton Wentz, and JD Stein led the offensive onslaught, with Stein adding a late home run to seal the victory.

  • The series opener was played on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Demon Deacons evened the series with their win on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • The rubber match will be played on Sunday, March 23, 2026 at 1 PM.

The players

Chris Levonas

Wake Forest's starting pitcher who held the Cavaliers to 3 runs over 5 innings.

Javar Williams

Wake Forest's leadoff hitter who sparked the 8-run 3rd inning with a key hit.

Dalton Wentz

Wake Forest outfielder who drove in a run with a double in the 3rd inning.

JD Stein

Wake Forest slugger who hit a late home run to seal the victory.

Virginia Cavaliers

The No. 9 ranked team in the country and Wake Forest's conference rival.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to bounce back after those tough losses. The guys really stepped up today and showed what this team is capable of.”

— Chris Levonas, Wake Forest Pitcher

What’s next

The series will be decided on Sunday, March 23, 2026 when Wake Forest and Virginia face off at 1 PM.

The takeaway

This decisive win over a top-10 conference rival shows that the Demon Deacons have the talent and resilience to compete with the ACC's elite teams. If they can carry this momentum into the rubber match, Wake Forest will be in a strong position to make a run at the ACC title.