Tom Walter calls Rhett Lowder the 'epitome' of college baseball players

Wake Forest’s magical 2023 season came to a narrow and bitter end vs. eventual champs LSU when they lost 2-0 in extra innings of the finals of College World Series pool play. But this Demon Deacon team didn’t go down without a masterful performance from the ace in their elite pitching unit: Rhett Lowder.

Against LSU, Lowder provided more than enough on the bump to give his squad a shot. He lasted seven innings, throwing 88 pitches to strike out six and allow three hits and two walks while giving up no runs. He did all he could and had to sit and watch the painful end to his career from the dugout after he carried Wake’s defense deep into the game.

The scene was emotional afterward and few guys were more tore up than head coach Tom Walter, who gushed about Lowder’s career as it came to an end.

“It’s impossible. I mean, the guy went 30-5 in his career,” said Walter. “And this is the first game we’ve lost this year that he’s pitched in. So obviously wouldn’t be here without him. And just a total gamer. He was just out there competing and battling, matching Paul Skenes pitch for pitch.”

Per Walter, his personality is even better than his play.

“Again, the most amazing thing is he’s an even better kid than he is a pitcher. He’s just the kind of guy that you want to go to war with. Everybody on this team just has so much respect for him and love for him. He’s the epitome of what you want in a college baseball player.”

Lowder also spoke briefly after the game, reflecting on the end of his collegiate career.

“This might be the last time — it’s going to be hard for me to take this off tonight. But there’s no way I wouldn’t pitch in this game,” Lowder said.

Thinking back, Lowder didn’t have too much to say by way of analyzing his performance in that specific game. No, this moment was a little bigger than just the one loss. Rather, he was just glad he got to go out and pitch for Wake Forest at least one more time.

“I don’t really know what went into it. I’m grateful just to be able to put this jersey on. So whatever I can do, whenever I can pitch, I’m going to pitch,” Lowder said.