Wake Forest’s Rhett Lowder, Sean Sullivan and Josh Hartle named to Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List

WINSTON SALEM, NC – All three Wake Forest weekend starting pitchers — Rhett Lowder, Sean Sullivan and Josh Hartle — were named to the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, as announced Wednesday afternoon.

The three pitchers named to the midseason list this year matches the number Wake Forest had in its entire history; Griffin Roberts was named to the list in 2018, while current assistant Will Craig received the distinction in 2015 and 2016.

Wednesday’s honor is not the only one bestowed on Wake Forest’s vaunted staff. This past week, D1 Baseball named all three pitchers in their Top 10 in college baseball — Lowder at No. 2, Sullivan No. 4 and Hartle No. 7.

The trio of Lowder, Sullivan and Hartle have been instrumental in Wake Forest’s No. 2 ranking midway through the season, as well as their spot atop the ACC Atlantic. The group has 16 wins this year with a combined ERA of 1.63 in 122.2 innings. Lowder, Sullivan and Hartle have also teamed up to strike out 181 batters, allowing just 22 earned runs and walking 23 batters.

Notably, the Deacs lead the nation in ERA, strikeouts, strikeouts-per-nine and WHIP. Additionally, they are pacing the ACC in walks-per-nine, strikeout-to-walk ratio, shutouts and hits allowed per nine.

Individually, Wake Forest’s starters top several statistics in the conference. Lowder and Hartle are tied atop the ACC for wins (6), while Sullivan leads the conference in strikeouts-per-nine (15.9), WHIP (.73) and hits-per-nine (4.54). Along with wins, Hartle is No. 1 in the ACC for K-BB ratio (9.14) and strikeouts (64).

Following two-straight ACC sweeps with the trio on the mound, Lowder, Sullivan and Hartle will retake the field for a critical in-state series against NC State at David F. Couch Ballpark. First pitch for the Friday opener is set for 6pm on ACC Network Extra.