WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Tuesday night at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches, the UCF baseball team dropped its penultimate midweek contest of the year, falling 11-8 to FAU. Ray Alejo and Tyler Osik combined to drive in four RBI, but the Knights could not keep pace with the outs after the hosts took a four-run advantage in the fifth.
Both clubs traded runs through the opening four innings. After FAU took advantage of a UCF error that prolonged the first inning to score a pair of runs, the Knights struck back with two scores to tie the game in the second. Max Wood came in from second on a throwing error by the pitcher, before Brody Wofford singled up the middle to drive in Jackson Webb from second. An inning later, Osik striped a two-run home run down the right field line to send the Black and Gold into the lead.
The advantage did not last long, as the Owls drove in a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth. UCF battled back to tie the game in the top of the fifth. Alejo laced a 1-1 offering through the right side to tie the game up at 5-5. The sophomore was far from finished making a contribution to the game.
Following four straight runs by the Owls over the fourth and fifth innings, the Knights faced a 9-5 gap in the top of the sixth. Alejo singled through the left side to bring in Wofford from second, who notched a one out double earlier in the inning. Dallas Beaver cut the gap to two with an RBI groundout to second that plated Adams Torres. During the next at-bat, Alejo darted for home to make it a 9-8 deficit, but FAU plated two more runs in the bottom half to keep its distance.
KEY STATS
UCF (32-17) – 8, FAU (32-14-1) – 11
Winning pitcher: Zach Schneider (4-1)
Losing pitcher: Luis Ferrer (0-1)
Top performers: Ray Alejo (2-5, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 SB), Tyler Osik (2-5, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 2B), Max Wood (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B), Brody Wofford (2-3, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB)
NOTABLES
• The Knights lead the all-time series against the Owls
• Ray Alejo stole his 30th base of the season in the third inning. The sophomore became the first Knight with 30 swipes in a season since Matt Ray's 32 in 2005.
• Osik pelted his ninth home run of the season. He is one homer shy of giving the Knights their first duo with double-figure home runs since 2015.
• Brody Wofford recorded his sixth multi-hit game of the year.
• UCF topped 100 stolen bases in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004 and 2005.
• At 3:57, Tuesday night was the longest game played in the history of FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches.
• Jeffrey Hakanson retired all five batters he faced over the sixth and seventh innings.
• Jack Sinclair retired the side in order in the eighth.
• The Knights recorded double-digit hits for the 19th time this season.
• Alejo stole home for the second time in as many games.
• The Knights have stolen home three times this season.
• Adams Torres matched his career high with three walks.
UP NEXT
The Knights will welcome No. 26 Oklahoma to John Euliano Park this weekend for a three-game set. The two clubs have never met for a weekend series.
SCHEDULE UPDATE
The final midweek game of the year next week at Jacksonville has been moved back to a 6 p.m. first pitch.
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