MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 25 UCF baseball team split its American Athletic Conference doubleheader at Memphis on Friday. The Knights (19-9, 2-3) topped the Tigers (9-18, 1-4) 7-1 in the opener and fell 9-0 in the nightcap.
The Black and Gold received a pair of solid starts from pitchers Joe Sheridan and Chris Williams, but the offense stranded 23 runners over the two games.
GAME 1
In the Knights relied on strong pitching from starting pitcher Joe Sheridan and reliever Thad Ward. The duo combined to strike out 11 batters on the afternoon. Sheridan went 5 1/3 innings with six punchouts and scattered five hits with one run against.
After Memphis tied the game up at 1-1 in the sixth, head coach Greg Lovelady turned to Ward to close out the game. The junior struck out five batters over the final 3 2/3 innings of the game. Ward allowed just one hit and one walk to pick up his third win of the season.
While the pitching staff held Memphis in check, the Black and Gold struggled to find that clutch hit at the plate. Instead, UCF worked the count and brought in four runs on bases-loaded walks. After UCF took a 2-1 lead in the eighth, Tyler Osik started a five-run ninth with an RBI single to center field. Ray Alejo capped the frame with a two-RBI single up the middle.
KEY STATS
No. 25 UCF – 7, Memphis – 1
Winning pitcher: Thad Ward (3-2)
Losing pitcher: Connor Alexander (0-2)
Top performers: Joe Sheridan (5.1 IP, 6 K, 5 H, 1 ER), Thad Ward (3.2 IP, 5 K, 1 H, 0 ER), Dallas Beaver (3-4, 2 R), Ray Alejo (2-5, 2 RBI)
JOE JAMS
• Sheridan did not receive a decision for just the second time in his career. The first came in his 2018 debut against Rice.
• The southpaw had to deal with some pressure situations with runners in scoring position in three innings.
• The sophomore topped five strikeouts in a start for the 10th time in his career.
GAME 2
For the second time on Friday, the Knights got a solid outing from a starting pitcher. Williams gave the Black and Gold five innings of three-hit ball with five punches. The redshirt junior scattered three hits and walked a pair to finish the night with two runs, one earned against.
After Williams made his exit, Memphis struck for seven runs in the sixth on five hits, all RBI doubles. Eric Hepple came in for the final out of the inning to stop the damage.
Offensively, the Knights tallied five hits and received six free passes, but stranded 10 runners in the process. Tyler Osik led the way with a pair of base knocks.
KEY STATS
No. 25 UCF – 0, Memphis – 9
Winning pitcher: Riley Cabral (4-3)
Losing pitcher: Chris Williams (3-1)
Top performers: Chris Williams (5 IP, 6 K, 3 H, 1 ER), Tyler Osik (2-4), Luis Ferrer (1 IP, 2 K)
DOUBLEHEADER NOTABLES
• Dallas Beaver matched his career high with a trio of hits in the opener.
• The Knights fanned 11 in both games, taking the Black and Gold up to 16 games with double-figure strikeouts.
• UCF is 3-1 this season in doubleheaders.
• The Black and Gold set a season-high with 14 strikeouts in the nightcap.
UP NEXT
The Knights and the Tigers will meet up for the rubber match on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (ET). UCF will give the ball to JJ Montgomery, while Memphis will send Jonathan Bowlan to the mound.
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- Game 1
- Game 2