Wake Forest Baseball Stuns Top-Ranked Rival: Must-See Highlights & 2026 College World Series Impact

Wake Forest baseball storms into the 2026 college season this weekend, taking its No. 21 national ranking to the sun-soaked Puerto Rico Challenge in Ponce. The Demon Deacons open Friday, Feb. 13, against Houston at 9:30 a.m. EST, followed by Washington on Saturday night and Indiana State on Sunday afternoon, with all three games airing on Victory+. Why the buzz • Rotation ready: Junior ace Blake Morningstar (3.87 ERA, 93 K in 79 IP last year) draws the Opening-Day start, backed by power right-handers Chris Levonas on Saturday and Matthew Dallas on Sunday. • Omaha ambitions: National previews project Wake Forest as a solid NCAA regional team after finishing strong in 2025; MLB.com lists the Deacs among the top storylines for college baseball’s first weekend. • Explosive offense: Veteran sluggers Nick Kurtz and Seaver King headline a lineup that ranked top-10 nationally in homers and on-base percentage a season ago. Transfer outfielder Carter Beck adds speed and gap power to an already deep batting order. • ACC gauntlet awaits: D1Baseball’s preseason poll slots Wake Forest seventh in the league, yet coaches around the conference concede the Deacs’ pitching depth makes them a dark-horse contender for the ACC crown. Series snapshots • vs Houston Cougars (Big 12 projected 13th): Morningstar faces a lineup that hit just .257 last spring, giving Wake Forest a chance to start 1-0. • vs Washington Huskies: Levonas must neutralize fifth-year star Casen Taggert (.326/.469/.494, 10 SB) to secure a marquee non-conference win. • vs Indiana State Sycamores: Dallas closes the weekend against a program only two years removed from hosting an NCAA regional but coming off a 24-31 record. Fan essentials • Venue: Estadio Francisco Montaner, Ponce, Puerto Rico. • Streaming: Victory+ (subscription required). • Social: Follow @WakeBaseball on X for lineup cards, in-game highlights and postgame interviews. Bottom line With three winnable games, national eyes on the rotation, and a potent lineup itching to launch baseballs into the Caribbean breeze, Wake Forest baseball is positioned to make an immediate statement. A sweep in Puerto Rico would vault the Demon Deacons up the rankings, energize the fan base ahead of next week’s home opener at David F. Couch Ballpark, and signal that the road to Omaha may once again run through Winston-Salem.