GREENVILLE, N.C. (UCFKnights.com) – A quick start was not enough for the UCF baseball team to even the weekend series at No. 14 ECU. The Knights dropped Saturday’s contest 7-4.
UCF took an early lead with a trio of runs in the first. The Knights loaded the bases with no outs on singles from Matthew Mika and Ray Alejo and a walk to Tyler Osik. Dallas Beaver put the visitors on the board with an RBI groundout to second, before Anthony George lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Osik. Dalton Wingo made it 3-0 with an RBI single to right field that brought in Mika.
Starting pitcher Grant Schuermann provided another solid outing for the Black and Gold. The redshirt senior tossed seven innings struck out three and scattered six hits with five earned runs against. The lefty cruised through the opening two frames on 17 pitches, before working his way through a pair of tough innings.
The Pirates pulled a pair of runs back in the third innings to cut the UCF lead down to one. ECU took the lead on a three-run home run by Spencer Brickhouse in the fifth.
The Knights shaved the gap down to one in the top of the eighth. Dallas Beaver worked his way around to third after a leadoff walk, a single by George and a sacrifice bunt by Wingo. Chandler Robertson stepped into the box with one down and sent a sac fly to deep center field, allowing Beaver to come in.
ECU added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.
UCF (15-8, 0-2) – 4, No. 14 ECU (17-6, 2-0) – 7
Winning pitcher: Zach Barnes (1-2)
Losing pitcher: Grant Schuermann (1-3)
Top hitters: Anthony George (1-3, 1 RBI), Dalton Wingo (1-3, 1 RBI)
Top pitchers: Grant Schuermann (7 IP, 3 K, 6 H, 3 ER)
NOTES
• Schuermann and Jack Sinclair provided some rest for the bullpen as the lone pitchers used on Saturday.
• George now has five hits on the season as he continues to work his way back from injury, two of which are home runs.
• Tyler Osik extended his on-base streak to 21. Dallas Beaver notched a new career-high 18-game on-base streak. Ray Alejo matched his career high with an eight-game hitting streak.
UP NEXT
The Knights will look to take the series finale on Sunday afternoon with a noon first pitch. Trevor Holloway will take the mound for the Black and Gold.
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