• Final stats

ORLANDO, Fla. – An emotional roller coaster of a series ended in favor of the visiting team, as the Oklahoma Sooners defeated the UCF Knights in the rubber game at John Euliano Park.

UCF won in 14 innings in the series opener on May 11 but fell 7-3 in Game 2, as head coach Greg Lovelady and center fielder Ray Alejo were ejected. Oklahoma ultimately won the series with a 7-4 decision Sunday afternoon despite a late, ninth-inning rally by UCF.

The Knights started the ninth by loading the bases with no outs. Shortstop Brandon Hernandez absorbed a pitch to lead off for the Knights, as pinch hitters Chandler Robertson and Jackson Webb singled and walked, respectively.

Left fielder Tyler Osik, then, was hit by a pitch, too, to bring home Hernandez. Center fielder Max Wood drove in the Knights’ fourth and final run, as he beat the double-play throw to first.

“Again, frustrating to win the first game of the series and lose the next two,” Lovelady said after the loss. “…You know, we had bases loaded. Second and third, first and second outs–we just couldn’t get the big hit. Guys competed at the end. Just, you know, I told the guys I’d like to see that fight…just start from the first pitch of the game.”

UCF started on a positive note, leading 2-1 after the second inning. Second baseman Matthew Mika hit a lead-off single to the mound and then stole second. Wood subsequently put the ball in play, reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on the errant throw that allowed Mika to sprint home for UCF’s first run.

Three batters later, third baseman Adams Torres singled to right-center field to drive in Wood.

But the third inning is when the Sooners scored their game-winning runs. Down a run, left fielder Cade Harris smacked a lead-off double to right field. That was immediately followed by shortstop Brandon Zaragoza’s walk and right fielder Steele Walker’s RBI single to the right.

UCF, then, replaced starter Joe Sheridan (3-3) with righty Eric Hepple. That didn’t make a difference, though, as Hepple’s first batter, center fielder Kyler Murray, slammed a three-run homer over the left-field wall.

In addition to playing baseball in the spring, Murray also plays quarterback for the Sooners.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s crazy [Murray] plays baseball for four months of the year and is the best player on the field,” Lovelady said. “I mean, that’s just really remarkable how talented he is, and, you know, we watch video a lot of Murray early on, and I just think he’s just continuing to get better.”

The Sooners tacked on two more runs, one in each of the seventh and eighth innings. Walker singled to right-center field to drive in Harris in the seventh, and pinch hitter Blake Brewster’s sacrifice fly allowed second baseman Kyle Mendenhall to score.

As for the Knights, reliever Jordan Spicer performed excellently in a team-high 3.0 innings of work. He faced just nine batters, striking out six in his perfect outing.

Who’s Next?

The Knights travel to play Jacksonville University on Tuesday at 6 p.m. They’ll follow that with a home series against Tulane University, starting on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

For more on the Knights, as they look to finish their final four games of the 2018 regular season on a positive note, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

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