WINSTON-SALEM (Interstat) — Wake Forest defeated Western Carolina 6-1 on Friday night at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park, earning its second consecutive win behind a dominant pitching performance by reliever Zach Johnston and a pair of early home runs.

The Demon Deacons improved to 33-17, while the Catamounts fell to 32-18.

Wake Forest struck first and decisively in the bottom of the first inning. Kade Lewis launched a three-run homer to right center, his 13th of the season, scoring Nick Williams and Andrew Costello after Williams had singled and Costello walked. The blast gave Wake Forest a 3-0 lead and set the tone for the night.

Western Carolina’s only run came in the top of the fifth. After a walk to Turner and a walk to Fox, Evan Jones singled to center field, driving in Turner. Fox advanced to second on the play, but the Catamounts could not push across any more runs. The hit was one of only two Western Carolina managed all night.

Wake Forest padded its lead in the bottom of the fourth. Dalton Wentz led off with a solo home run to right field, his 13th of the season, making it 4-0. After a double by Conte, Andrew Costello crushed a two-run homer to deep left field, his second of the season, scoring Conte and extending the lead to 6-1.

The Demon Deacons’ pitching staff stifled Western Carolina throughout. Starter Evan Jones worked three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out three. He was followed by Chris Levonas, who pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Johnston then took over in the sixth and retired all 12 batters he faced over four innings, striking out five and allowing no hits. It was the second consecutive scoreless outing of at least three innings for Johnston, who struck out five in three innings against Louisville on May 2.

Western Carolina used a committee of pitchers. Griffin Guinther threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Ryan White also threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out two. Shane Huntsberger and Colton Starling each added a scoreless inning, with Huntsberger facing one batter and Starling retiring the side in the eighth.

The Catamounts threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two walks and a hit, but struck out swinging to end the inning. They put two runners on in the seventh on walks to Turner and Fox, but a double play ended the rally.

Defensively, Wake Forest turned a key double play in the bottom of the seventh when Costello was thrown out at home on a fly ball to right field, and Lewis was later thrown out at the plate on a double by Conte. The twin kills kept the shutout intact until the fifth.

Western Carolina next faces Wake Forest again Saturday in the second game of the three-game weekend series. Wake Forest travels to Liberty on Tuesday before a conference series at Duke.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Western Carolina 8, Wake Forest 6. The Interstat ELO system had given Wake Forest a 78.50 percent probability to win.