GREENVILLE, N.C. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF baseball team saw its rally come up short in the series finale at No. 14 ECU on Sunday afternoon, falling 6-5. Down by two entering the ninth, the Knights pulled within one, but left the tying run on second.
Ray Alejo and Tyler Osik both recorded 3-for-5 performances and drove in all five runs to lead the way offensively, while the bullpen tossed 7 2/3 innings after starter Trevor Holloway exited in the first inning.
The Knights turned to the long ball to take an early lead in the top of the first. Alejo hit a leadoff homer to left on the third pitch of the game. On the next at-bat, Osik followed the same flight plan with a solo shot to left.
ECU took the lead in the bottom of the first with a trio of runs, as Kyle Kemp was forced into action out of the bullpen with one out. The righty worked through 1 2/3 innings with a trio of punchouts to keep the Knights within one.
The bullpen shut the Pirates down for the third and fourth. Jaylyn Whitehead worked a scoreless frame, before Luis Ferrer struck out three over the next 1 2/3 innings.
UCF retook the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Jordan Rathbone drew a pinch-hit leadoff walk and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt from Chandler Robertson. Ray Alejo brought in the redshirt junior with a stand-up RBI double down the left field line to tie the game. After Alejo stole third, he came in on a fielding error by the third baseman off a hard-hit ball from Osik.
ECU tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single, before solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings gave the hosts a two-run lead going into the ninth.
With one out in the ninth, the Knights put runners on second and third after a one-out single from Chandler Robertson and a double from Ray Alejo. Osik plated his third run of the game with an infield single to make it a one-run game.
UCF nearly tied the game on the next at-bat. Matthew Mika dropped bunt to the left side and the throw narrowly beat a sliding Alejo.
UCF (15-9, 0-3) – 5, No. 14 ECU (18-6, 3-0) – 6
Winning pitcher: Evan Voliva (3-1)
Losing pitcher: Garrett Westberg (2-2)
Top hitters: Tyler Osik (3-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R), Ray Alejo (3-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Top pitchers: Jaylyn Whitehead (1.0, 1 H, 0 ER), Kyle Kemp (1.2 IP, 3 K, 3 H, 1 ER)
NOTES
• Osik extended his on-base streak to a career-long 22 games.
• The two home runs marked the fifth multi-home run game of the season for the Knights.
• Sunday was the sixth and fourth three-hit games of the year for Osik and Alejo, respectively.
• The 7 2/3 innings tossed by the bullpen were the third most this season for the relievers.
• Osik now has 20 multi-RBI games during his time at UCF.
UP NEXT
The Knights return to John Euliano Park on Wednesday to open a four-game homestand. UCF will face North Florida at 6 p.m. on UCFKnights.TV.
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