• Final stats

A one-game hiatus from American Athletic Conference play treated the UCF Knights well.

After losing back-to-back games in Connecticut, UCF shut out the Miami Hurricanes to initiate a new winning streak. Then, the Knights (24-11, 5-5 in AAC) returned to Orlando and beat the Cincinnati Bearcats (16-16, 6-4 in AAC) 5-4 on April 13 to give that winning streak life.

A lack of UCF scoring forced the Knights into a manageable deficit after five innings. The Knights recorded just one of their six hits and two of their five walks in that stretch, as they trailed 4-0 before scoring their first run.

UCF’s three-run outburst in the sixth came courtesy of a three-run homer by left fielder Tyler Osik. But, first, designated hitter Dallas Beaver and second baseman Matthew Mika had to get on base.

Beaver reached first with a lead-off single up the middle. After flyout by center fielder Ray Alejo and a pop fly to first base by first baseman Rylan Thomas, Mika drew a full-count walk. Osik, then, waited five pitches before sending the ball over the left-center-field wall.

The Knights subsequently tied the game in the seventh and scored the game-winning run in the eighth.

After third baseman Griffin Bernardo flied out to start the seventh inning, right fielder Dalton Wingo sent UCF’s second home run over the left-field wall. Thomas, the Knights’ leader in home runs (nine) and RBIs (40), only needed one pitch to score the game-winner in the eighth, sending the ball over the left-field wall for a 5-4 lead.

Cincinnati almost mounted a comeback in the final inning, as the Bearcats managed two runners on base. They were thwarted, though, by junior closer Bryce Tucker. The lefty with UCF’s third-lowest ERA (1.62) pitched the final inning and recorded strikeouts for two of his outs.

Righty Eric Hepple (1-1) pitched 1.1 innings and struck out three of the four batters he faced before handing the reigns to Tucker. First reliever Thad Ward pitched the most innings (3.2) for the Knights, recording a game-high five strikeouts and allowed a run on two hits. He replaced starter Joe Sheridan after 2.1 innings.

For the Bearcats, junior A.J. Kullman (1-2) suffered the loss after 1.1 innings of work. It was senior J.T. Perez, however, who allowed more runs (four) on more hits (two), as he pitched 6.2 innings.

Who’s Next?

The Knights and the Bearcats continue their series on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

For more on the Knights, as they look to move above .500 in AAC play, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.