DELAND, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – It was an offensive explosion on Tuesday night at Melching Field at Conrad Park, as the UCF baseball team struck for 13 runs against Stetson to win 13-4. The Knights completed the season sweep of the Hatters by totaling 12 hits and drawing nine walks.
“It was a good job by the offense,” head coach Greg Lovelady said. “I thought we did a much better job with our approach. We worked on getting good pitches and not swinging out of the zone. It was good to see the guys make those adjustments at the plate. In the middle innings and at the end of the game, the guys did a good job with tempo. I’m happy with the way the offense played. It’s always good to get the midweek win.”
Ray Alejo and Dallas Beaver both went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI to pace the offense. Alejo matched his career high with three runs scored, while Beaver extended his team-leading RBI tally to 31.
UCF continued its track record of scoring in the first. Ray Alejo started the game off with an infield single to short and advanced on a throwing error. Tyler Osik put the Knights ahead during the next at-bat with an RBI double to right center. Alejo added to the lead an inning later with an RBI single to bring in Brandon Hernandez, who reached on a double.
The Knights broke it open with nine runs between the fourth and fifth innings. The Black and Gold drove in a trio of runs in the fourth on three hits. Matthew Mika roped a two-run double to left center with the bases loaded. After Dallas Beaver walked to reload the bases, Osik sprinted home on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
UCF poured in on in the sixth with six runs on a pair of hits. Anthony George came in to score on Brandon Hernandez’s sacrifice bunt. Following a Chandler Robertson walk to load the bases, Alejo drew a five-pitch walk to add to the lead, before a wild pitch brought in Hernandez.
With the bases reloaded on a Mika walk, Beaver looped a double to the outfield beyond the outstretched glove of the center fielder for two runs to score. Dalton Wingo capped the inning with a sac fly to right center that brought in Mika.
An inning later, Ben McCabe made his mark on the game with his first career home run, a solo shot to right center. Pedro Castellano put a cap on the night with an RBI single to right with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.
UCF (18-11) – 13, Stetson (12-16) – 4
Winning pitcher: Jaylyn Whitehead
Losing pitcher: Brett Neilan (1-3)
Top hitters: Ray Alejo (2-2, 2 RBI, 3 R), Dallas Beaver, 2-2, 2 RBI), Matthew Mika (1-2, 2 RBI, 1 R), Chandler Robertson (1-3, 3 R, 2 BB)
Top pitchers: Jaylyn Whitehead (2 IP, 1 K, 0 H), Zack Hunsicker (1 IP, 0 H), Jeffrey Hakanson (1 IP, 3 K, 0 H), Kyle Kemp (1 IP, 1 K, 0 H)
O YEAH, OFFENSE
• The Knights’ 10 RBI matched a season high set against VCU on March 15.
• Beaver topped his previous career high of 30 RBI set during the 2018 season.
• Mika recorded the 21st multi-RBI game of his career.
• Nine different Knights recorded a base hit and seven drove in a run.
ON THE MOUND
• UCF went deep into the bullpen, using eight arms on the night.
• Jaylyn Whitehead came in for Jordan Spicer, who struck out a pair in two shutout innings, to work two scoreless frames with one punchout.
• Zack Hunsicker needed just 12 pitches to retire the side in order in the fifth.
• Jeffrey Hakanson fanned three and Kyle Kemp struck out one to close out the eighth and ninth.
• UCF totaled 10 strikeouts on the night, marking the 16th 10-strikeout game this season.
NOTES
• UCF now leads the all-time series 74-48.
• The win was the Knights’ 32nd in DeLand, marking the most on the road against an opponent.
• The Knights are 8-0 in midweek contests this season.
• The Black and Gold drew nine walks on the night.
• Mika is one game shy of tying his career-long hitting streak of 16.
UP NEXT
UCF will return to John Euliano Park this weekend for a three-game set in the War On I-4 against South Florida. Friday night will by Citronaut Knight, and the team will wear special Citronaut caps.
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