HOUSTON, Texas (UCFKnights.com) - After taking both games of Saturday's doubleheader, the UCF baseball team could not complete the weekend sweep at No. 19 Houston on Sunday afternoon, falling 6-3 in the series finale. The Knights were powered by the six through nine spots in the order recording all seven hits.
Ray Alejo single-handedly put the Knights on the board in the first inning. The redshirt sophomore reached on an error to start the game, beating a throw after the ball deflected off the pitcher's glove. Alejo moved over to third with two outs after back-to-back steals, but the UCF centerfielder was not finished flashing his speed. Sensing a lull by Houston lefty Brayson Hurdsman, Alejo darted for home for the opening run of the game.
The lead was short lived though, as the hosts plated four runs in the bottom of the first on two hits and four walks. UCF cut into the deficit in the top of the second. Following a single by Max Wood and a double by Logan Heiser, Jackson Webb and Adams Torres drove in runs on a pair of sacrifice flies on consecutive at-bats to trim it to 4-3.
The one-run deficit was the closest the Knights would make it, before the Cougars tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. From that point on, the Black and Gold kept the hosts off the board. After starter Joe Sheridan made his exit after 4 1/3 innings, Eric Hepple rounded out the fifth without surrendering a hit or walk. Garrett Westberg threw the sixth and seventh innings, striking out a pair and allowing one hit. Bryce Tucker finished the game with two punchouts in the eighth.
KEY STATS
UCF (32-16, 11-10) - 3, No. 19 Houston (29-19, 14-7) - 6
Winning pitcher: Ryan Randel (4-4)
Losing pitcher: Joe Sheridan (3-2)
Top performers: Jackson Webb (2-3, 1 RBI), Adams Torres (1-2, 1 RBI), Max Wood (2-4, 1 R)
NOTABLES
* Houston leads the all-time series 28-22.
* Ray Alejo notched a career-high four stolen bases.
* The four stolen bases most since March 6, 2007, when Tyson Auer swiped a quartet against Michigan State.
* Alejo took his season total to a team-high 29 stolen bases.
* The Knights have stolen home twice this season.
* Jackson Webb and Max Wood notched their eighth and third multi-hit games of the year, respectively.
* A day after recording his first career hit and RBI, Adams Torres drove in his second run of the weekend on Sunday.
* Rylan Thomas' on-base streak came to an end at 55 games, 10 shy of Kiko Vazquez's record.
UP NEXT
The Knights will play the return leg of their midweek series against FAU on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach.
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