Wake Forest vs. Alabama: 2023 Winston-Salem Super Regional preview, prediction

One of multiple SEC teams tasked with going on the road this weekend is Alabama, as the Crimson Tide will travel to face Wake Forest for the 2023 Winston-Salem Super Regional. A three-game series against one of the nation’s best, can the Crimson Tide pick up two wins to advance to their first College World Series since 1999?

Wake Forest vs. Alabama: 2023 Winston-Salem Super Regional preview, prediction

When:

• Game 1: Saturday, June 10 at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN+
• Game 2: Sunday, June 11 at TBD on ESPN+
• Game 3 (If Necessary): Monday, June 12 at TBD on ESPN+

Where: David F. Couch Ballpark, Winston-Salem, NC

Beginning with a look at Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons are the No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, and are sitting at 50-10 overall this season, a record that also included a 22-7 mark in ACC play to win the conference’s regular season title. A team that is also 29-3 at home this season, the Demon Deacons are coming off an impressive showing in the Winston-Salem Regional by winning all three games they played against George Mason, Maryland, and George Mason once again, outscoring opponents a combined 48-7.

Wake Forest enters the weekend batting for a combined .308 AVG as a team, and have five total players hitting for a .340+ AVG in Nick Kurtz, Pierce Bennett, Brock Wilken, Tommy Hawke, and Justin Johnson, with Kurtz and Wilken among the ACC’s top HR hitters. In addition to that group, Lucas Costello is also a name to know owning a .307 AVG, as are the likes of Bennett Lee, Danny Corona, and Adam Cecere offensively.

While the Demon Deacons lineup is certainly good, arguably the difference maker for the nation’s top team is their pitching staff, a group that holds a combined 2.78 ERA as a team. Wake Forest has arguably the nation’s top rotation in Rhett Lowder, Josh Hartle, and Sean Sullivan, each of which have an ERA under 3.00, while others such as Seth Keener and Reed Mascolo are names to know alongside Cole Roland, Michael Massey, and Camden Minacci.

As for Alabama, the Crimson Tide are the No. 16 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, and are sitting at 43-19 overall this season, a record that also included a 16-14 mark in SEC play. Alabama is also coming off an impressive showing in the Tuscaloosa Regional in which they won all three games against Nicholls, Troy, and Boston College, and will now go on the road where they are 9-9 in away games this season.

The Crimson Tide are currently batting for a combined .295 AVG as a team, and have four players hitting for a .300+ AVG in Tommy Seidl, Andrew Pinckney, Ed Johnson, and Drew Williamson. Colby Shelton also leads the Crimson Tide with 22 HR this season, while others such as Jim Jarvis, Mac Guscette, Dominic Tamez, and Caden Rose are among the additional names to know.

Alabama’s pitching staff owns a combined 3.96 ERA this season, and are led by the rotation trio of right-hander’s Luke Holman, Garrett McMillan, and Jacob McNairy. The Crimson Tide’s bullpen has also impressed this season, with names such as Alton Davis II, Hagan Banks, Aidan Moza, Hunter Hoopes, and Riley Quick all owning ERA’s under 4.00.

As for who advances to Omaha, the pick goes to Wake Forest, with the Demon Deacons rotation, and pitching staff overall, a big reason as to why. Don’t necessarily count out Alabama however, as the Crimson Tide have everything needed to pickup two big wins on the road.

Prediction: Wake Forest wins two games, Alabama wins one