TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - After splitting the opening two games of the War On I-4 series, the UCF baseball team dropped a 4-2 decision in the weekend finale to USF on Sunday,.
The Knights opened the scoring in the second inning. Tyler Osik and Jackson Webb connected on back-to-back one-out singles to set up a two-RBI double to the left field corner from Logan Heiser. The Black and Gold nearly added to the lead an inning later when Dallas Beaver and Ray Alejo moved into scoring position, but were left on the paths at the end of the frame.
In the bottom of the third, USF hit a pair of home runs on consecutive at-bats to take a 3-2 lead. The Bulls added to the advantage in the fifth. USF catcher Tyler Dietrich reached on a bunt single, but the throw to first sailed over Rylan Thomas' glove and allowed a runner to come in from second.
The pitching staff kept the Knights within striking distance the rest of the game. After starting hurler JJ Montgomery made his exit after 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts, Bryce Tucker came in and fanned a pair over one inning.
Thad Ward faced two runners in scoring position and one out in the sixth inning when he was called out of the bullpen. Two days after picking up a nine-out save in the series opener, the junior shut the door with a strikeout and a groundout. Junior Luis Ferrer closed the game out for the Knights with one strikeout over the final 1 1/3 innings.
KEY STATS
UCF (27-14, 7-8) - 2, USF (26-14, 9-6) - 4
Winning pitcher: Collin Sullivan (2-0)
Losing pitcher: JJ Montgomery (3-3)
Top performers: Thad Ward (1.1 IP, 2 K, 1 H, 0 R), Luis Ferrer (1.1 IP, 1 K, 1 H, 0 R), Logan Heiser (1-4, 2 RBI), Max Wood (2-4) Ray Alejo (2-4)
NOTABLES
* After clinching the War On I-4 outright on Friday, UCF leads USF 44-25 in the season series.
* USF now leads the all-time series 71-66.
* Max Wood went 2-for-4 at the dish with a double. It was the second multi-hit game of the year for the senior.
* Rylan Thomas extended his on-base streak to 48 games with a two-out walk in the seventh.
* Ward now leads the team with 62 strikeouts this season, a new career high.
UP NEXT
The Knights will return to John Euliano Park next weekend for a three-game homestand against Wichita State. Friday night will be Joe Skinner Knight to honor Joe Skinner, a UCF Baseball signee who passed away from a rare form of leukemia in 2016. The Knights are taking in donations for the Skinner Strong Foundation, click here to contribute.
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