ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 23 UCF baseball team extended its winning streak to 12 games on Sunday with a 10-8 win over Siena in the series finale at John Euliano Park. The Knights completed the sweep behind 14 strikeouts from the pitching staff and 15 hits on offense.
Tyler Osik led the way offensively with a 3-for-4, six RBI performance, while Jordan Spicer tossed a season-high seven punchouts to improve to 3-0 on the year.
"At the end of the day, we judge against the standard of the program," head coach Greg Lovelady said. "We didn't play up to that standard today. It was unacceptable. We talked a lot about not making excuses, like three games in 24 hours and the time change. We have to embrace those challenges. We had some chances to put the game away early, but we struck out looking. Tyler Osik was phenomenal. He had a lot of unselfish team at-bats. Logan Heiser did a tremendous job. Those two guys showed up today."
The Knights (13-3) traded runs with the Saints (0-14) in the first inning. Osik drew a five-pitch walk with the bases loaded to even the score at 1-1. After Siena regained the lead in the top of the third, Osik drilled a two-run home run to make 3-2 in favor of UCF. In the fourth, Matthew Mika plated Ray Alejo from second on an RBI single to center field. Mika then sprinted home one batter later on Osik's single down the right field line.
UCF tacked on three more runs in the fifth. Brody Wofford hit his first career home run with UCF on the first pitch of his at-bat to extend the lead to 7-3. Two batters later, Jackson Webb drove in Brandon Hernandez with an RBI single to right field. With two on and two out in the seventh, Osik lined a pitch back up the middle to bring in Webb and Rylan Thomas in the seventh inning.
The six run lead nearly evaporated in the eighth. Bryce Tucker came on to pitch with the bases loaded with the lead trimmed down to five-run lead. The Saints brought in three runs, largely aided by two errors by UCF, before Tucker closed out the inning. Garrett Westberg came on in the final frame to earn his third save of the week.
KEY STATS
No. 23 UCF (13-3) – 10, Siena (0-14) – 8
Winning pitcher: Jordan Spicer (3-0)
Losing pitcher: Rylan Bellomo (0-1)
Save: Garrett Westberg (3)
Top performers: Jordan Spicer (5 IP, 7 K, 7 H, 3 ER), Tyler Osik (3-4, 6 RBI, 1 HR), Brody Wofford (2-5, 2 RBI, 1 HR), Bryce Tucker (1 IP, 2 K, 1 H), Garrett Westberg (1 IP, 1 K)
SPICING THINGS UP
• UCF starting pitcher Jordan Spicer had a career day.
• The righty fanned a season-high seven batters over five innings of work, while allowing seven hits and three earned runs.
• Spicer did not issue a walk.
• The junior improved to 3-0 on the season.
NOTABLES
• With 14 strikeouts on the day, UCF has fanned at least 10 batters in eight games this season.
• Logan Heiser notched a season-high three hits.
• After not recording a steal in the series opener, the Knights recorded five on Sunday, led by two from Jackson Webb.
• Mika tied Ray Alejo for the team lead in stolen bases with 11.
• Osik became the first Knight with six RBI in a game since Rylan Thomas accomplished the feat against Central Michigan last year.
• Sunday was the first time the Knights did not walk an opposing batter this year.
WEEKEND RECAP
• UCF now owns a 54-4 record over Siena, with wins in the last 16 games.
• Osik and Wofford combined for nine RBI on the weekend.
• The UCF starting pitchers recorded 23 strikeouts this weekend.
• The Black and Gold was 9-for-10 when stealing to take the season total to 53.
• The pitching staff struck out 37 batters and issued four free passes.
UP NEXT
The Knights be at home for two games this week. On Tuesday, the Black and Gold will face Bradley and play Miami on Wednesday.
DON'T MISS THE ACTION
Season and single-game tickets for UCF Baseball are on sale. Featuring a 36-game home schedule, John Euliano Park is set to host some of the best collegiate baseball in the country. For more information on tickets call 407-823-1000 or log on to ticketmaster.com.
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