Tom Walter analyzes Josh Hartle's performance on the mound vs. Alabama

Wake Forest is on track to make its first College World Series since 1955. Leading Alabama 10-3 through three innings on Sunday, Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter discussed his starting pitcher Josh Hartle’s performance on the mound during the early-going.

“He doesn’t have his cutter today. He’s gotten hurt on cutters and balls that he has left up. We’ve just got to get him back to the bottom of the zone,” Walter said during Game 2’s broadcast. “He got a big shut-down [third] inning there for us, so I’m proud of him.”

Through three innings, Hartle had given up three earned runs on six hits, including two home runs. Although he’s had some trouble with the long ball, he was still able to manage seven strikeouts. He’s also thrown 41 strikes on 59 pitches.

Luckily for Wake Forest, their offensive-heavy park is playing to their advantage because of Hartle’s command.

“You’ve got to make pitches, there’s no doubt about that,” Walter said. “Fortunately, we’re on the right side of it so far but there’s a lot of game to go, and that Alabama club sure is good.”

Catch the rest of the game live on ESPN and ESPN+.

Jason Jackson discusses managing pitching staff during elimination game

Jason Jackson will pitch as many players as he can if it means Alabama has a shot at rallying against Wake Forest on Sunday.

Trailing 10-3 in the fifth innings, Jackson has already used three pitchers. Jacob McNairy earned the start but lasted 2.1 innings after giving up seven runs on six hits and a walk. He allowed four home runs as the Demon Deacons busted the game wide open.

“We wanted to get some length out of J-Mac. He wasn’t as crisp today, left some breaking balls up. He made some 0-2 mistakes and they made him pay for it,” Jackson said on the ESPN broadcast. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of day, right? It’s win or go home. 

“We have a lot of bullets down there and we’re going to use them and see if we can’t get back in this thing.”

Kade Woods relieved McNairy in the third inning, but he only lasted until the end of the inning. He allowed three earned runs on two hits — both of which went for home runs. Hunter Furtado calmed things down a bit once arriving in the game to begin the fourth. In his first two innings on the mound, Furtado struck out four batters and did not allow a run.