It was a night of unwelcome firsts at David F. Couch Ballpark, as Wake Forest faced a tough 10-0 defeat against Florida State, marking their first home loss and shutout of the season. The Seminoles took control early and never looked back, ending the game in seven innings via the run rule.
The action kicked off with a miscue that set the stage for Florida State's dominance. Dalton Wentz made a diving stop at third, but his throw pulled Ryan Preisano off the bag. Myles Bailey capitalized on the opportunity, launching a two-run homer that quickly put the Seminoles ahead 2-0.
Blake Morningstar, still finding his rhythm this season, struggled on the mound. After Bailey's home run, Morningstar seemed to regain his footing briefly, but Florida State struck again in the third. Brayden Dowd's two-run shot extended their lead to 4-0, and the Seminoles were just getting started.
On the flip side, Florida State's lefty, Wes Mendes, was in command. He kept the Demon Deacons' bats quiet all night, mixing pitches with precision and staying ahead in counts. Mendes' masterful performance resulted in a complete-game shutout, with 11 strikeouts to his name.
Wake Forest had a glimmer of hope early when Javar Williams reached base following a rushed play by Myles Bailey at first. Kade Lewis then lined a shot up the middle, but shortstop Cal Fisher's quick reflexes snuffed out the threat. This sequence typified Wake Forest's night-every time they seemed poised to rally, Florida State had an answer.
The Deacs struggled to find their groove, with the offense stalling in four of the final six innings and striking out nine times in that span. Meanwhile, Florida State kept the pressure on, adding insurance runs and pushing the lead to 10-0 by the seventh inning.
For Wake Forest, it was an uncharacteristic off night. Known for their potent offense and strong home performances, the Demon Deacons couldn't find their rhythm at the plate or on the mound.
But the series is still alive, and Wake Forest has a chance to bounce back. This team has shown resilience early in the season, and they'll aim to demonstrate that again as they regroup for game two.