ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – For the second straight game, the UCF baseball team brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Knights could not overcome a multi-run deficit in Sunday's rubber match against Oklahoma, falling 7-4.
The two clubs traded runs through the opening three innings. Oklahoma opened the scoring when designated hitter Tyler Hardmann came in from third on a UCF error with two outs.
The Knights responded in the bottom half with a pair of runs. After a leadoff single, Matthew Mika stole second. The junior broke for home when Max Wood grounded in a fielder's choice to short and the throw to third sailed wide of its mark. Adams Torres put the Black and Gold ahead with an RBI single to right center later in the inning.
Oklahoma took the lead for good in the fourth. Steele Walker notched an RBI single to tie the game up at 2-2, before Kyler Murray lifted a three-run home run to left.
Jordan Spicer took over on the mound in the fourth inning and kept the Oklahoma offense off the board. The righty retired all nine batters he faced and finished with six punchouts. Once Spicer made his exit at the end of the sixth, the Sooners tacked a run in the seventh and eighth innings, before Jaylyn Whitehead came in to toss a scoreless ninth with a pair of strikeouts.
UCF managed to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the ninth. Brandon Hernandez, Chandler Robertson and Jackson Webb loaded the bases with no outs. Tyler Osik then took a pitch in the middle of his back to bring a run. Two batters later, Max Wood beat out a throw to first on a potential game-ending double play, which allowed Robertson to come in from third.
KEY STATS
UCF (33-19) – 4, No. 26 Oklahoma (33-19) – 7
Winning pitcher: Nathan Wiles (5-3)
Losing pitcher: Joe Sheridan (3-3)
Top performers: Jordan Spicer (3 IP, 6 K, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R), Adams Torres (2-4, 1 RBI), Tyler Osik (1-4, 1 RBI), Max Wood (1-5, 1 RBI)
NOTABLES
• With the series win this weekend, Oklahoma took a 4-3 all-time series lead.
• The Knights are 11-8 against ranked opponents in 2018.
• Matthew Mika took his stolen base tally up to 26, second on the team to Ray Alejo.
• The Knights have outscored opponents 31-12 in the ninth inning this season.
• Adams Torres notched his second career multi-hit game.
• Brandon Hernandez finished with a pair of walks and reached on ever plate appearance to take his on-base percentage to .362 this year.
UP NEXT
UCF will head to Jacksonville for its final midweek contest of the year. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday night.
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