MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFKnights.com) – Tied 3-3 heading into the ninth inning, the No. 25 UCF baseball team used six runs in the final frame of Saturday's series finale at Memphis to win 9-3. The Knights tallied five of their 13 hits in the ninth to clinch the series.
"We fought and just did not give up," head coach Greg Lovelady said. "I felt like we weren't sharp for the first eight innings on the mound or at the plate, but we grinded on the mound. We kept chipping away, and finally broke through in the ninth. We had some really good at-bats in that inning. We got the leadoff hit, moved him over and had four hits that scored runs. I'm proud of the guys for not giving up and bouncing back."
Brandon Hernandez started the ninth with a single to left, and moved into scoring position when Ray Alejo put down a sacrifice bunt. Rylan Thomas sent the Black and Gold into the lead with a single up to bring Hernandez in from second. Osik followed suit and plated Dallas Beaver, who walked earlier in the frame, on a single to left. After Logan Heiser was hit by a pitch to load the bases, two more runs scored when Chandler Robertson reached on a perfect bunt between the mound and first base. Griffin Bernardo capped the offensive outburst with a two-run double off the wall in right.
The UCF bullpen was called into action after starter JJ Montgomery exited in the third. Eric Hepple came on for 1 2/3 innings and struck out three, before Garrett Westberg took the Knights through the sixth with a pair of punchouts. Jordan Spicer scattered four hits and allowed one run in his 1 2/3 innings of action. He made way for Bryce Tucker to close out the game for the final four outs.
KEY STATS
No. 25 UCF (20-8, 3-3) – 9, Memphis (9-19, 1-5) – 3
Winning pitcher: Bryce Tucker (1-2)
Losing pitcher: Blake Bennett (1-2)
Top performers: Bryce Tucker (1.1 IP, 1 K), Rylan Thomas (3-5, 2 RBI, 2 R), Griffin Bernardo (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R), Dallas Beaver (2-3, 1 RBI, 2 R)
TUCK FOR THE WIN
• Tucker picked up his first win of the season the fourth of his career.
• The lefty needed just 17 pitches four the final four outs, which included one strikeout.
• Saturday was the fifth time that Tucker did not allow a hit in an appearance this season.
THREE EARLY RUNS
• Thomas gave the Knights the lead in the first with an RBI single to left.
• After Memphis took the lead on a two-run homer in the second, Matthew Mika drove in Thomas with a single in the next frame to tie the game.
• Dallas Beaver fell a few feet shy of his fifth home run of the season in the fourth, but the deep fly to left gave Bernardo plenty of time to trot in from third.
NOTABLES
• UCF tallied its 20th win of the season, marking its 35th straight 20-win season.
• Rylan Thomas went 3-for-5 at the dish with a pair of RBI for his 12th multi-RBI game of the year.
• Six different Knights drove in a run on Saturday.
• Eric Hepple has not allowed an earned run in 11 of his 14 appearances this season.
• Thomas extended his on-base streak to a career-high 37 games.
• UCF launched four doubles on Saturday, including a career-high two from Bernardo.
UP NEXT
The Knights will return to John Euliano Park on Tuesday for a midweek clash against Stetson at 6:30 p.m.
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