WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — Blake Morningstar struck out 11 over six dominant innings and Kade Lewis drove in two runs as Wake Forest rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat Stanford 7-4 on Friday night at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.

The Demon Deacons (13-1) extended their winning streak to eight games, overcoming a first-inning solo home run from Stanford’s Rintaro Sasaki. The Cardinal (5-8) managed just six hits, with three coming in a futile ninth-inning rally.

Stanford starter Nick Dugan held Wake Forest hitless through three innings but unraveled in the fourth. The right-hander was charged with five runs, all earned, on five hits and three walks over five innings, taking the loss. He struck out five.

The game turned decisively in the bottom of the fourth. Trailing 4-1, Wake Forest loaded the bases with one out against Dugan. Jack Schaaf delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-2. Two batters later, Stanford shortstop Braden Bates committed a costly throwing error on a grounder by Marek Stein, allowing two unearned runs to score and knot the game at 4-4.

Wake Forest seized the lead for good an inning later. Javar Williams led off the fifth with a double and scored on a single by Lewis to make it 5-4. Lewis later came home on an RBI single by Adam Miller, pushing the advantage to 6-4.

That was more than enough support for Morningstar (2-0). After surrendering Sasaki’s homer on his seventh pitch of the game, the Wake Forest ace was nearly untouchable. He allowed just one more hit, a second-inning double, and retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced. Morningstar walked one and hit a batter.

The most important sequence of the game was Wake Forest’s two-out rally in the eighth against Stanford reliever Kassius Thomas, which provided critical insurance. Schaaf singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Lewis to extend the lead to 7-4.

Stanford made a final push in the ninth against Wake Forest reliever Michael Bowie. Pinch-hitter Henry McDonald launched a two-run homer to left, scoring Jimmy Tokheim who had doubled. Eric Jeon followed with a solo shot, suddenly bringing the tying run to the plate.

Wake Forest then turned to closer Will Ray, who struck out two and induced a groundout to seal the victory and earn his fourth save.

Lewis finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs for Wake Forest, which racked up 15 hits. Williams also went 3 for 5 with two runs scored.

Sasaki’s homer was his fourth of the season for Stanford. Thomas provided 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Cardinal before the eighth-inning run.

The Atlantic Coast Conference-organized series continues Saturday.