ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After rallying from behind in the first two games of the weekend, the No. 23 UCF baseball team took control of Sunday's finale against Wagner. The Knights blanked the Seahawks 12-0 to complete the sweep.
"It's always good to win," head coach Greg Lovelady said. "The offense did tremendous. Spicer started off a little rough, but managed the game and settled down. Garrett Westberg did a great job out of the bullpen. You worry sometimes on Sunday after you've won the first two games, but that wasn't a problem today. The guys stepped on the gas and got the sweep. Now, we can look forward to Tuesday. It's going to be a great atmosphere against a really good team."
UCF started the scoring with four runs on three straight at-bats in the second. Griffin Bernardo singled to left to bring in Dallas Beaver from third. Brandon Hernandez roped a double down the left field line for two RBI. Tyler Osik capped the early scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly.
After Jackson Webb and Dallas Beaver brought in runs on sac flies in the third and fifth, respectively, Griffin Bernardo hit a first-pitch home run to start the sixth. UCF poured in on in the eighth for the second straight game. With two outs, Max Wood singled to left and scored Webb to make it 8-0. Chandler Robertson drove in a pinch hit RBI on the next at-bat. Then, Rylan Thomas crushed his second home run of the weekend to center field for a three-run shot.
KEY STATS
No. 23 UCF (8-3) – 12, Wagner (3-6) – 0
Winning pitcher: Jordan Spicer (2-0)
Losing pitcher: Kevin Wiseman (0-2)
Top performers: Rylan Thomas (3-5, 3 RBI), Jackson Webb (2-2, 1 RBI), Griffin Bernardo (2-4, 2 RBI), Brandon Hernandez (2-3, 2 RBI)
BRING THEM HOME
• The Knights had seven different players drive in RBI on Sunday.
• Thomas brought in a trio of runs, the 19th multi-RBI game of his career.
• Hernandez and Bernardo both plated a pair of runs.
• UCF scored three runs on sacrifice flies.
PITCHING PACKS A PUNCH
• After starter Jordan Spicer exited after five innings of five-hit work with five strikeouts, the Knights allowed just two hits over the final four frames.
• Garrett Westberg fanned a pair over two innings.
• Luis Ferrer made his UCF debut with one strikeout in the eighth.
• Nick McCoy returned to the mound for the first time since Feb. 21, 2016 against Siena. The Albion, Ind., native struck out the first batter he faced in the ninth.
WEEKEND RECAP
• Thomas finished the weekend with a .909 slugging percentage and eight RBI.
• Mika hit .500 over the last two games.
• UCF was 7-of-10 when stealing this weekend.
• The UCF bullpen shut down the Seahawks in the latter stages of the games. The Knights surrendered just one earned run and allowed a .149 batting average.
NOTABLES
• The Knights remained perfect against Wagner (18-0)
• Thomas is up to 19 games for his on-base streak.
• Nick McCoy's absence totaled 742 days.
• Webb was a perfect 3-for-3 when stealing on Sunday.
UP NEXT
The Knights start the first for three straight weeks with two midweek contests. UCF will host No. 1 ranked Florida on Tuesday at John Euliano Park at 6:30 p.m., before traveling to Gainesville on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
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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