The University of Central Florida completed its sweep of Wagner College on March 4, but it wasn’t as straightforward as it sounds. UCF needed a walk-off home run in Game 1 and an eight-run comeback in Game 2 to make it possible.
The series finale was a blowout of Wagner on March 4.
In total, UCF (8-3) beat the Seahawks (3-6) by a total, three-game score of 28-11 at John Euliano Park to extend its winning streak to seven.
Knights Walk Off Behind Rylan Thomas’ 3-run Bomb (Game 1)
(By Victor Tan)
The Knights used four late runs to propel themselves to a series-opening, 6-3 win over the Seahawks on March 2.
With UCF trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, Wagner helped the Knights’ comeback effort by hitting lead-off hitter Chandler Robertson. A sacrifice bunt by Jackson Webb advanced Robertson to second before Brandon Hernandez’ base hit up the middle drove in Robertson for the tying run.
Ray Alejo, then, struck out looking on a 2-2 count, brining catcher Dallas Beaver to the plate. He singled to right field, bringing sophomore Rylan Thomas to the plate, UCF’s only double-digit home-run hitter from last year.
Thomas lived up to his rookie-season reputation, sending a 2-0 pitch over the right-field wall for a three-run bomb to complete UCF’s comeback, walk-off win.
UCF led 2-1 after six innings, but the Seahawks scored game-tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh. Both runs were unearned, as lead-off hitter Will Johnson reached first on a fielding error. He scored two batters later before Nick Mascelli doubled to left field for the lead-taking run.
Mascelli scored the first run of the game in the top of the third with a home run over the left-field wall. UCF returned the favor in less-dramatic fashion, as Thomas flew out to center field so that Beaver could score.
Robertson flew out in the sixth, as Thomas scored his first run of the game.
UCF Uses 8-run 8th Inning to Come Back Against Wagner (Game 2)
(By Tommy Cardinal)
The Knights shocked Wagner with a come-from-behind victory courtesy of an eight-run eighth inning, winning 10-8 on March 3.
Freshman Jeffrey Hakanson (1-0) was credited with the win for the Knights, as he pitched 2.0 innings as a reliever and led all four UCF pitchers with five strikeouts. Bryce Tucker was credited with the save by finishing off the game with two flyouts and a groundout in the ninth inning.
For Wagner, Freddy Sabido (0-2) recorded the loss, as he allowed three earned runs on two hits and two walks in 0.1 innings and allowed the Knights’ go-ahead runs. Of the five pitchers who appeared for Wagner, starter Eric Ligda pitched the most. He recorded two strikeouts and allowed two earned runs on six hits and four walks in 5.1 innings.
The Knights entered the bottom of the eighth inning down six runs but scored eight runs to take a 10-8 lead.
After catcher Logan Heiser drew a lead-off walk and Brody Wofford struck out, Webb singled to center field on an 0-2 pitch. Heiser, then, advanced to third on a throwing error by Wagner catcher Phil Capra and ran home after Hernandez singled to center field.
That was when Wagner went to the bullpen, bringing freshman Pat Gallagher to the mound. His tenure didn’t last long, though, as he hit Tyler Osik with his first pitch, loading the bases. Then, a wild pitch allowed Webb to score, bringing the Knights within four runs of tying the game. After Gallagher walked the next batter, he was replaced.
Two batters later, Beaver put the Knights in the lead with a single to right field, driving in two batters and giving the Knights a 9-8 lead with one out. Webb stepped up to the plate for the second time in the eighth to give the Knights a two-run lead with a single to right field, allowing Wood to score.
Wagner’s 8-0 lead entering the fifth was courtesy of a hot start. The Seahawks started with a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Capra singled to left field, as a throwing error allowed him to reach third base. Sabido and Mascelli were already on base via singles and both scored.
Wagner extended its lead to eight runs in the top of the fourth with four runs. After two one-out walks, Anthony Godino loaded the bases with a base hit to center field.
A passed ball allowed Joe Silverstrone to score, making it 5-0. Capra extended the lead with a bases-clearing double. Wagner was scoreless the rest of the night.
Knights Blow Out, Shut Out Wagner (Game 3)
(By Tommy Cardinal)
UCF finished its home series with a dominating performance, beating Wagner 12-0 on March 4.
Right-handed pitcher Jordan Spicer (2-0) was credited with the win for UCF, striking out five batters and allowing five hits and a walk in 5.0 innings.
Freshman pitcher Kevin Wiseman (0-2) was given the loss for Wagner, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.
Thomas was stellar throughout the game, going 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and adding three runs of his own. His three-RBI bomb came in the bottom of the eighth, extending UCF’s lead to the final score.
UCF started scoring in the bottom of the second inning when a walk and two singles loaded the bases for UCF with only one out. Griffin Bernardo singled to left field, driving in the first run of the day for the Knights.
Hernandez drove in two more runs with a double down the left-field line, and Osik allowed Bernardo to score with a sacrifice fly for a 4-0 lead.
Three runs came courtesy of sacrifice flies. Thomas scored two of his three runs off fly balls, first reaching home after Webb hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third. The sophomore scored again when Beaver flew out to left field in the bottom of the fifth.
Bernardo, a freshman, hit his first collegiate home run off the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth inning. That gave UCF a 7-0 lead.
Wood drove in Webb with a single to left field, and Robertson sent a base hit to right-center field, allowing Hernandez to score for the eighth and ninth runs of the game for UCF.
Who’s Next?
The Knights will welcome the No. 1 University of Florida to John Euliano Park Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
For more on the Knights, as they try to continue their winning streak, follow Tommy Cardinal on Twitter at @NDR_TomCardinal.
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