WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — The Wake Forest Demon Deacons, showcasing the explosive offense that has defined their early season, rallied from a six-run deficit to outslug the Stanford Cardinal 12-9 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.

The game turned decisively in a marathon bottom of the fourth inning, where the top-ranked Demon Deacons (15-1) sent 12 batters to the plate and erupted for eight runs to erase a 9-3 Stanford lead. The inning transformed a potential upset into a continuation of Wake Forest’s dominant start.

Stanford (5-10) had built its advantage with early power. Jimmy Nati launched a solo home run in the second inning, and Charlie Bates added a two-run shot in the third, part of his two-hit, two-RBI day. The Cardinal staked starter Aidan Keenan to a six-run cushion, but control issues proved costly. Keenan walked five and allowed five earned runs over 3 1/3 innings before exiting with the bases loaded in the fourth.

Wake Forest right fielder Luke Costello, the game’s top star, promptly unloaded them. Facing reliever Sam Garewal, Costello crushed a grand slam to deep center field, his fourth homer of the season, to tie the game at 9. The onslaught continued two batters later when catcher Jimmy Keenan followed with a two-run homer, giving the Demon Deacons an 11-9 lead they would not relinquish.

Costello’s slam was the pivotal blow in a game defined by Wake Forest’s relentless response. He finished 1 for 3 with the four RBIs.

Wake Forest starter Chris Levonas settled in after a rocky start to earn the win. He worked five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out eight. His ability to navigate Stanford’s lineup after the early homers kept the Demon Deacons within striking distance for the fourth-inning eruption.

Stanford relievers Cohen Gomez and Liam Golden provided brilliant work to keep the Cardinal close. Gomez entered with the bases loaded in the fifth and escaped the jam, finishing with two hitless innings and four strikeouts. Golden followed with two scoreless innings of his own, allowing just one unearned run. Their efforts allowed Stanford to mount a late threat.

The Cardinal chipped away with a run in the seventh on a double play and staged a serious rally in the eighth. Trailing 12-9, they loaded the bases with one out against reliever Nate Whysong. Wake Forest turned to Ryan Bosch, who induced a sacrifice fly from Rintaro Sasaki and then, aided by a wild pitch that scored another run, navigated the inning to preserve a 12-9 lead. Stanford brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Brock Sell’s two-run single, but Evan Jones recorded the final out to secure the win.

Javar Williams paced the Wake Forest offense with three hits, an RBI, and three runs scored. Jimmy Keenan drove in three runs on two hits, including his crucial homer.

The victory was Wake Forest’s second over Stanford in as many days, following a 7-4 win on Friday. The Demon Deacons have now won 15 of their first 16 games. Stanford, meanwhile, dropped its fourth straight contest despite a 10-hit offensive performance.