The Knights walk away with one win on the weekend

UCF baseball managed a win in the series finale after the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls clinched the weekend 2-1 at John Euliano Park.

The scheduled series opener on Friday was postponed due to inclement weather and changed to a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Game 1

The Bulls (9-3, 0-0 American) launched to a hot start in the 75-degree weather after USF senior infielder Nathan Earley slammed a home run to deep right field, resulting in a two-RBI.

UCF (5-5, 0-0 Big 12) responded with first basemen/outfielder Landon Moran scoring on a fielding error, followed by senior infielder/outfielder Cayden Gaskin sailing to home plate off an RBI single to shortstop at the bottom of the second.

Earley became USF’s driving force with an RBI single that sent USF senior outfielder Ryan Pruitt to home plate and pushed the Bulls to a 3-2 lead.

The Knights could not rally against the Bulls’ offensive surge as USF scored three runs in two consecutive innings while UCF played seven scoreless innings.

USF demonstrated strong versatility both offensively and defensively, hitting .317 overall and a strike percentage of 62.1, compared to UCF’s .188 overall hitting and a 58.2 strike percentage.

Game 2

Both teams returned to the field in a stalemate as junior pitcher Matt Sauser and USF freshman pitcher Michael Senay tossed seven scoreless frames.

Knights Senior outfielder John Smith III snapped the standstill as his single to right field led freshman outfielder Stephen Chucka to score unearned at the bottom of the eighth.

Though the Knights’ chance to clinch the second series game was stopped after a USF double allowed freshman outfielder Gabe Graulau to score, tying the matchup and heading into extra innings.

With two outs at the top of the tenth, USF senior infielder Bradke Lohry knocked an RBI single through the left side of the infield that brought senior infielder Jevin Relaford to home plate. USF junior pitcher Landon O’Donnell stepped to the mound and halted any opportunity for UCF to win the series.

UCF baseball head coach Rich Wallace believed changes needed to be made before the final matchup, saying the quality and the consistency of the at-bats from the Knights were not up to par.

“It starts with Joey Trombley going out on the mound and throwing strikes and commanding the zone, similar to how Matt Sauser, Max Murray, and Evan [Jones] did for the most part, Wallace said during the Saturday postgame conference. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get a little tougher and better at the plate.”

Game 3

The Knights came back to the field the next day and kicked off the scoring with an RBI from senior infielder/outfielder Cayden Gaskin.

USF freshman infielder Eli Thomas brought the Bulls back into contention with a single to right field that permitted Lohry to score.

Emotions ran high as disputes with home plate umpire Sam Birch caused Wallace to be ejected from the game right before the bottom of the sixth.

Though missing its head coach only fired up the dugout as UCF kept the matchup close for another three frames.

With three balls and two strikes and the bases loaded, redshirt senior catcher Zak Skinner delivered the final blow with a game-winning RBI single, leading junior outfielder Andrew Williamson straight home and clinching the series finale for UCF.

“Those are the at-bats I live for,” Skinner said during the Sunday postgame conference. “They’re something different and bring out the best in everyone. I was ready for a pitch that I could hit and get past the infield.”

The Knights’ homestand rages on in their next matchup against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at John Euliano Park.