Wake Forest's Chris Levonas started the game but only lasted five innings, and the team was unable to recover from a brutal 9th inning, falling to Kentucky in the Morgantown Regional. The Deacs will now have to play out of the losers' bracket and face an elimination game on Saturday.
Wake Forest RHP Chris Levonas exits the field after starting the game in Friday's Morgantown Regional against Kentucky . To make it to next weekend's Super Regional , it's still possible, but they will now have to play out of the losers' bracket in the Regional.
On Friday afternoon, in the first game of the Regional, No. 2-seed Wake faced the No. 3-seed Kentucky Wildcats. What started out looking like the Deacs were in control changed gears as soon as Tom Walter went to the bullpen. Even after falling behind, Wake was able to tie it 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th.
Then came the brutal top of the 9th inning. With two outs and a runner on third base, reliever Will Ray threw a wild pitch that got away from catcher Matt Conte, allowing Jayce Tharnish to score the go-ahead run. The Deacs were not able to get a run across the plate in the bottom of the frame, giving the Wildcats the win. Chris Levonas got the start.
And he did what was needed, but only lasted five innings once his pitch count went above 90. He only allowed one run on two hits. He also had six strikeouts and only gave up one walk. Thanks to an RBI 1st inning single by Kade Lewis and a Matt Conte 4th inning two-run homer, Levonas left the game with the Deacs up 3-1.
Rhys Bowie took the mound to start the 6th inning, and he immediately changed the course of the game. Lead-off batter Tyler Bell was hit by pitch. Luke Lawrence walked on a full count, followed by another walk by Hudson Brown. This gave the Bat Cats bases loaded and no outs.
Bowie would record his first out with a strikeout before giving up a 2-run RBI with a double down the left field line by Braxton VanCleave. The game was now tied at 3-3. Another wild pitch would score Brown, and VanCleave was brought home on a sac fly. Kentucky was now up 5-3 in the middle of the 6th.
Thanks to a solo home run in the bottom of the 6th by Andrew Costello and another solo home run in the bottom of the 8th by Dalton Wentz, Wake Forest entered the 9th inning tied at 5-5. Will Ray took the mound for the Deacs and struck out the leadoff batter. Tharnish came to the plate and singled with a hit to right field.
He would then steal second and then steal third, putting him in prime position when the wild pitch was thrown. The Deacs had an opportunity to even the score in the bottom of the 9th, but could not do so, which ultimately cost them the game. The Deacs fall to the losers' bracket of the Morgantown Regional. They will play an elimination game on Saturday, May 30, at 12 pm ET against the loser of the West Virginia/Binghamton game. It can be seen on the ESPN networks, most likely ESPN+
Wake Forest Kentucky Morgantown Regional Super Regional Chris Levonas Will Ray Matt Conte Jayce Tharnish Rhys Bowie Kade Lewis Andrew Costello Dalton Wentz West Virginia/Binghamton
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