ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF baseball team evened up the weekend series with South Florida Friday, defeating the Bulls 9-1 at the UCF Baseball Complex. Saturday's series finale will mark the end of the 2017 campaign and ultimately help determine The American's regular-season champion.
The Knights would be crowned with a win Saturday and it would be the first time UCF claimed a regular-season championship since 2004 when the squad conquered the ASUN. The Bulls would claim the title with a win over the Knights combined with loss by UConn.
Starter Chris Williams had a career night, throwing seven innings while allowing just three hits and one walk and sitting down six.
"Chris Williams threw an absolute gem today," UCF head coach Greg Lovelady said of his starter. "We needed a great start from the guy on the mound and Willy gave it to us. To go seven innings and give up two or three hits.. that's a great offense and he did a great job pounding the zone and getting ahead, putting guys away and making great pitches."
The Black and Gold started the fireworks in the third inning, as the home team posted six-straight hits with one out. Right fielder Eli Putnam singled through the left side, before short stop Brennan Bozeman loaded the bases with a single to left.
Left fielder Kyle Marsh got down 0-2, but fouled off three pitches before hitting the ball hard to second base for an infield hit. The Bulls fielder knocked down the ball, saving it from rolling into right field, but had trouble coming up with it as the first two runs crossed the plate.
First Baseman Rylan Thomas and third baseman Kam Gellinger each added RBI singles, making it five-straight base hits. Second baseman Matthew Mika then capped off the inning with a double to the wall in left field, scoring Thomas and Gellinger who came all the way around from first.
The Knights added a run in the fifth on a two-out bases-loaded walk and two more in the sixth when Thomas delivered his 13th home run of the season. The two-run blast brought him to a team-best 49 RBI's on the season.
With The American's regular-season crown on the line, Saturday's finale will air on CBS Sports Network and is slated for a 1:06 p.m. start. Fans can also listen to Marc Daniels on the call on iHeartRadio and FM 96.9 The Game or click here to follow along via live stats.
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