ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF baseball team could not clinch its American Athletic Conference series against No. 30 Wichita State at John Euliano Park on Saturday night, falling 5-4 to the Shockers.
Rylan Thomas lifted his 11th home run of the year, as the Knights plated all four runs in the first inning. Wichita State managed to keep the Black and Gold off the board for the final eight frames, and scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth.
"We got off to a good start," head coach Greg Lovelady said. "I thought the guys did a good job in the first inning. Then, we shut it down offensively. We didn't play good enough defense, and gave up a couple of unearned runs. Willy wasn't sharp at the start. The home runs he gave up shook him, and he was great from the third to the seventh. Offensively, we had too many lazy fly balls. We pitched well enough to win, but we just have to play better defense."
For the second straight night, the Knights had to bounce back from a Wichita State home run in the top of the first, as the Shockers took a one-run lead on a solo homer. Thomas fired back in the bottom half with a two-run blast to right to give the Black and Gold a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Tyler Osik flew home from third when Max Wood beat out a throw to first on a potential inning-ending double play. Matthew Mika added another run during the next at-bat. The junior forced an errant throw back to third by the catcher and trotted in to make it 4-1.
Wichita State pulled a pair of runs back in the top of the second with a two-run home run by right fielder Dayton Dugas. The Shockers tied the game up in the sixth on an RBI single. With one out in the top of the ninth, UCF was not able to turn a double play to get out of the frame, which allowed the visitors to bring in the winning run from third.
UCF starter Chris Williams bounced back from a pair of home runs in the first two innings. The redshirt junior finished the night with six strikeouts over seven innings of work. Williams had to fight through a trio of defensive miscues by the Black and Gold. Only two of the four runs he allowed were earned. JJ Montgomery came out of the bullpen for the final two innings. The righty was saddled for the loss after fanning four and allowing a pair of hits and one run.
KEY STATS
UCF (28-15, 8-9) - 4, Wichita State (28-13, 5-9) - 5
Winning pitcher: Adam Deller (1-0)
Losing pitcher: JJ Montgomery (3-4)
Top performers: Chris Williams (7.0 IP, 6 K, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB), JJ Montgomery (2.0 IP, 4 K, 2 H, 1 ER), Rylan Thomas (1-4, 2 RBI, 1 HR), Dallas Beaver (2-4, 1 R)
THE 100-RBI CLUB
* Rylan Thomas topped the career century mark for RBI with his 100th and 101st runs driven in on Saturday.
* The sophomore needed 102 games to accomplish the feat.
* Thomas also cracked the program's top-10 for home runs with his 25th career blast.
NOTABLES
* The Knights and the Shockers are now tied 1-1 in the all-time series.
* Thomas extended his on-base streak to 51 games. He can tie the program record for single-season on-base streak of 44 games on Sunday.
* Dallas Beaver tallied his 11th multi-hit game this season.
* Chris Williams has thrown at least five innings in all 11 starts this season.
* Montgomery made his first appearance out of the bullpen since Feb. 23 against Savannah State.
* Ray Alejo notched his 20th stolen base of the year.
* The Knights are 6-5 in the middle game of a series this season.
UP NEXT
Joe Sheridan will return to the mound on Sunday afternoon for the Knights. He will face Liam Eddy for Wichita State. The series finale is set for a noon first pitch.
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