WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — Wake Forest rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat Western Carolina 9-5 Sunday at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park. The Demon Deacons improved to 35-17, while the Catamounts dropped to 32-20.

Western Carolina scored all its runs in the first three innings. Lyda homered in the first, Spees hit a two-run homer in the second and Jones doubled in two runs in the third for a 5-1 lead. Wake Forest answered with six runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double from Will and a two-run single by Stein. Torres added an RBI single in the fifth and an RBI double in the seventh.

Rhys Bowie was the top star, pitching 2.2 perfect innings with six strikeouts. Marcelo Harsch followed with 2.1 innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Boston Torres went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Davis Budd pitched 2.2 hitless innings with three strikeouts for Western Carolina, but allowed one earned run. Trey Spees homered and drove in two for the Catamounts.