GREENVILLE, N.C. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF baseball team scored seven runs between the fourth and seventh innings on Friday night, but the Knights’ rally came up short in their series opening game against No. 14 ECU, falling 13-8.
Matthew Mika went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two walks to lead the way offensively. Ray Alejo drove in one run and scored twice on a 3-for-5 night at the plate, as five players recorded multi-hit outings.
Alejo put the Knights out in front in the first inning. The redshirt junior roped a double to left on the first offering of the game and later stole third. Later in the frame, Mika forced a rundown between first and second that allowed Alejo plenty of time to break for home.
The lead was short-lived, as the hosts plated 10 runs over the next three innings.
After a pair of quiet innings, the Knights put five runs on the board between the fourth and fifth innings with a pair of home runs. Dallas Beaver demolished a 1-0 offering to right field for a two-run shot. An inning later, Mika cut the deficit to five with a three-run homer to left center.
The Black and Gold continued to cut into the deficit over the sixth and seventh inning. Brandon Hernandez benefitted from a fielding error and a failed pickoff attempt to advance to third with no outs in the sixth, before Alejo brought him home on a hard-hit ball to second. Anthony George launched a solo shot to left to lead off the seventh, which cut the deficit down to three.
After UCF starter Chris Williams made an exit after three innings, the bullpen held the Pirates to three runs over the final five innings. Zack Hunsicker matched his career high with two innings of work. Luis Ferrer tossed a clean sixth, before Jaylyn Whitehead came in for the last two frames with one strikeout.
UCF (15-7, 0-1)- 8, No. 14 ECU (16-6, 1-0) – 13
Winning pitcher: Alec Burleson (2-0)
Losing pitcher: Chris Williams (2-2)
Top hitters: Ray Alejo (3-5, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB), Dalton Wingo (3-5, 1 2B), Matthew Mika (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR)
Top pitchers: Luis Ferrer (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB)
NOTES
• Alejo recorded his ninth steal of the year.
• UCF’s three home runs were the second most by the Knights this season.
• Chandler Robertson recorded his fifth bunt single of the year.
• Osik extended his on-base and hitting streaks to 20 and nine games, respectively.
• The Knights’ five extra-base hits were the second most this season.
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