NEW ORLEANS, La. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF baseball team topped Tulane 11-4 in the first game of a conference series at Turchin Stadium Friday. The Knights posted a big first inning, taking control of the game from the beginning.
UCF scored five runs on five hits in the opening half inning, as center fielder Luke Hamblin got things started with a lead-off double. Short stop Brennan Bozeman then brought him around with a one-out single to right center to take a 1-0 lead.
First baseman Rylan Thomas added a single and second baseman Matthew Mika drew a walk to load the bases. Third baseman Kam Gellinger then pulled a ball down the line, hopping it over first base for a two-run double. Left fielder Kyle Marsh stepped up and delivered the innings third double increasing the lead to 5-0.
The Green Wave came crashing back in the bottom half of the opening frame. UCF starter Robby Howell walked the first two hitters he faced before a single loaded the bases with nobody out. A ground ball to first garnered an out but brought in a run for the home team.
After an infield single loaded the bases again, Howell notched his first strikeout of the game. Now with two outs, Tulane delivered single to center field to bring home a pair of runs before a pop fly would end the inning.
UCF would post three more in the fifth however, charging back to a comfortable 8-3 lead. Thomas reached on an error with one out before Mika added a single. Gellinger then added a single through the right side. Thomas would score on the play and Gellinger moved to second on a throw to third.
Marsh then added another RBI single and moved to second on a throw to the plate. Finally, designated hitter Ryan Crile added the innings fourth hit, scoring Gellinger.
After giving one back in the seventh, the Knights poured it on again in the top of the eighth. Hamblin walked, stole second and moved to third on a deep fly ball. After Bozeman was hit by a pitch, he stole second and Hamblin scored on a wild pitch.
With the Black and Gold now up 9-4, Bozeman stole third before Thomas crushed a line drive over the fence in left field on a full count.
After a slow start on the mound, Howell finished the night going six and two third innings, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out nine.
Reliever Thad Ward came on and got the final out of the seventh with a strikeout and retired the side in order in the eighth. Right hander Eric Hepple came on to finish things up the ninth. He faced just three hitters and fanned the first and last to end the game.
With the victory, the Knights remain tied with Houston and South Florida atop the American Athletic Conference at 10-6.
First pitch for game two is slated for 5 p.m. E.S.T. Saturday with Sunday's finale set for 2 p.m. The Voice of the Knights Marc Daniels will have the call on FM 96.9 The Game, and iHeartRadio or fans can follow along via live stats.
Tulane will also stream the series here through a paid subscription service and Sunday's finale will stream live on the American Digital Network.
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