ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Behind a standout night from Ray Alejo and four hitless innings from the bullpen, the UCF baseball team evened its weekend series with Penn State on Saturday night at John Euliano Park with a 5-3 win.
“I’m proud of the guys for bouncing back after the loss last night,” head coach Greg Lovelady said. “I thought the pitchers did a great job tonight. Grant did exactly what we needed him to do. Kemp and Westberg were phenomenal during the final four innings. It was fun to watch those guys throw. We had a good first inning with Osik’s home run, and Ray just had a great game. We have to clean some stuff up. We have to come out and compete tomorrow to win the series.”
UCF starter Grant Schuermann picked up his first win as a Knight in his fourth outing and first start on Saturday. The lefty kept the Nittany Lions off balance all night, throwing 17 first-pitch strikes. The graduate transfer fanned five on the night, one shy of his season high. He scattered seven hits and allowed just a trio of runs to score.
Tyler Osik made an emphatic statement in his first game back after missing the series opener. The senior roped a 1-0 offering in the bottom of the first into the bullpen in left for a two-run home run. The Knights never trailed after taking the 2-0 lead.
Up 2-1 in the bottom of the second, Ray Alejo notched his first of three hits on the night with a double to center field, bringing Dalton Wingo from second. The redshirt junior was responsible for the final two runs for UCF. Alejo belted a triple to right center with two outs in the fourth to plate Brandon Hernandez to make it 4-2, before launching a solo homer to left in the seventh to give the Knights a two-run cushion.
The lead was more than enough for the one-two punch of Kyle Kemp and Garrett Westberg out of the bullpen. Kemp made his first multi-inning appearance of the year, going two innings and striking out a season-high five batters and allowed just two runners on base. Westberg shut the door for the final two frames. The righty fanned a trio in two 1-2-3 innings.
UCF (10-4) – 5, Penn State (8-3) – 3
Winning pitcher: Grant Schuermann (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Bailey Dees (0-1)
Save: Garrett Westberg (1)
Top hitters: Ray Alejo (3-4, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR), Tyler Osik (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R)
Top pitchers: Grant Schuermann (5.0 IP, 5 K, 2 ER), Kyle Kemp (2.0 IP, 0 H, 5 K), Garrett Westberg (2.0 IP, 0 H, 3 K)
RAY RAKES
• Alejo matched his season high with a trio of base knocks.
• His solo shot was his third of the year, matching his total from 2018.
• The Orlando native was a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
• The last Knight to hit for the cycle was Tommy Williams against Fairfield on March 13, 2015.
BULLPEN BULLIES
• Westberg earned his first save of the year. It was the Knights’ fourth in 2019.
• The Federal Way, Wash., native has not allowed a hit in his last three appearances.
• Kemp maintained his flawless ERA with another shutout outing.
• The righty has allowed just one hit in 10 innings of work this season.
NOTES
• The all-time series is now tied at 1-1.
• The bullpen finished with eight strikeouts, tied for the sixth most from the relievers this season.
• UCF recorded 13 strikeouts, its 11th game with double-figure punchouts.
• Tyler Osik extended his on-base streak to a career-long 12 games.
• Osik also posted his 16th multi-RBI game at UCF.
• Every starting player in the batting order reached base for the Black and Gold.
UP NEXT
UCF will play the rubber match tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Trevor Holloway will take his 1-0 record into his fourth start against Penn State’s Eric Mock.
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