ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 19 UCF baseball team recorded its sixth shutout of the year in a convincing 10-0 victory over Chicago State on Friday night at John Euliano Park.
The Knights (15-4) were led offensively by eight combined RBI from Matthew Mika, Ray Alejo and Dalton Wingo. Chris Williams earned his third win of the season, while freshman Jack Sinclair picked up his first career save.
"We played really well," head coach Greg Lovelady said. "We did a much better job. Some guys picked us up. Dalton Wingo had a huge at-bat with two outs and the bases loaded. He hit a bases-clearing triple. Mika and Rylan Thomas carried our offense. We got a bunch of hits and a bunch of runs. We manufactured all of them ourselves. We were great on the mound again by Chris Williams. Jack Sinclair came in and bounced back with three great innings. It was a very well-rounded win."
Mika put the Black and Gold in front in the bottom of the first. The second baseman teed off on the first pitch he saw and sent the offering over the wall in left for a two-run shot. The junior added to the lead three innings later with an RBI double to bring in Thomas. Five batters later, Wingo launched a bases-clearing three-RBI double off the wall in center field.
Brandon Hernandez flashed his speed in the fifth. The junior beat a throw to the plate after a hard a hard ground ball to third by Tyler Osik. Ray Alejo tacked on a pair of runs three at-bats later. With the bases loaded and two outs, Alejo brought in Thomas and Osik on a single through the right side to make it 9-0. Dallas Beaver plated the final run of the game in the seventh on a mammoth home run to left field.
KEY STATS
No. 19 (15-4) - 10, Chicago State (4-10) - 0
Winning pitcher: Chris Williams (3-0)
Losing pitcher: Dylan Cumming (1-2)
Save: Jack Sinclair (1)
Top Performers: Matthew Mika (3-4, 3 RBI, 1 HR), Rylan Thomas (2-2, 2 R), Dallas Beaver (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 HR), Chris Williams (6 IP, 5 K, 6 H), Jack Sinclair (3 IP, 4 K, 0 H)
PITCHING PROWESS
* Chris Williams tossed six shutout innings with five strikeouts.
* The righty helped his cause with a pickoff in the first and and help stamp out a double steal in the third.
* Williams extended his scoreless inning streak to 16 frames.
* After a tough first career start on Tuesday, Sinclair bounced back with his first career save.
* The rookie retired all nine batters he faced in order, including three on strikes
MAGIC MIKA
* Mika matched his career high with a trio of RBI.
* The junior's home run was his second of the season and fourth of his career.
* Mika fell a triple shy of the cycle.
NOTABLES
* Friday was the first meeting in history between the Knights and Cougars.
* With their sixth shutout of the year, the 2018 Knights have moved into a tie for fifth in shutouts in a season in program history.
* Wingo recorded a career-high three RBI.
* Sinclair was the fourth Knight to post a save this season.
* Thomas extended his on-base streak to 27 games.
UP NEXT
The Knights and Cougars will square off in game two on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. UCF will send Thad Ward to the mound against Chicago State's Dean Youngblood.
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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