Kade Lewis hit the go-ahead RBI single to open a decisive four-run eighth inning as No. 22 Wake Forest fended off upset-minded Siena Baseball 11-7 in the series opener in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
 
Siena (0-4), which had produced just one run over its first three games plus the opening two innings Friday, exploded for a six-run third punctuated by a pair of home runs. Jake Sparks smashed the go-ahead grand slam and freshman Scott Lynch capped the outburst with his first collegiate home run.
 
Wake Forest (4-1) responded with four in the home half of the third inning – including two of their four home runs on the evening – to draw even 6-6.
 
In a game which featured seven total home runs, Aidan Paradine put the Saints back ahead with a solo shot in the fifth. The Deamon Deacons rallied to tie again in the sixth.
 
Owen Pincince got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh with back-to-back strikeouts, but the Wake Forest offense broke through in the eighth.
 
The Deamon Deacons batted around sending 10 men to the plate and went ahead with four runs despite just one hit in the frame, taking advantage of a pair of walks and hit batsmen apiece to go along with a costly inning-opening error.
 
Dalton Wentz homered twice, scored three runs, and drove in four to pace the Wake Forest offense.
 
Paradine and Lynch each added singles to post the first multi-hit efforts of the young season for Siena.
 
The series resumes at 4 p.m. Saturday.