ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – An early two-run lead was not enough for the UCF baseball team to hold off FAU on Tuesday night at John Euliano Park, as the Knights fell in the midweek for the first time all season in a 5-3 loss.
Matthew Mika put the Knights head in the bottom of the third. Ray Alejo and Brandon Hernandez converted a double steal, before Tyler Osik walked to load the bases. Matthew Mika then chopped a would-be inning-ending double play ball to second, only to see it muffed by the second baseman. Two runs came in, including Mika’s 21st RBI of the year.
Starting pitcher Jordan Spicer gave the Knights five solid innings on the mound. The righty dealt five scoreless frames with one strikeout. He scattered a pair of hits and worked around two walks. It was his fourth start without allowed a run this season.
After Spicer made his exit with a 2-0 lead, FAU pounced on the bullpen. The Owls tied the game up on two-run home run from left fielder Andru Sommerall, before an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly gave the visitors a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth.
Righty Zack Hunsicker settled things down when he come in with no outs in the sixth. The rookie rolled through two scoreless frames with a strikeout and one walk. The Wentzville, Mo., native the first five batters he faced.
Mika brought UCF back within one in the bottom of the seventh. The senior roped a double down the third base line to drive in Chandler Robertson, who started the inning with a leadoff double to left field.
UCF was not able to cut the gap down further, as the Owls tacked on an insurance run on a sac fly in the eighth.
Jeffrey Hakanson took the mound for the ninth. After starting his appearance with a hit and a walk, the sophomore sent the next three batters back on strikes.
UCF (22-15) – 3, FAU (25-11) – 5
Winning pitcher: Vince Coletti (2-2)
Losing pitcher: Jack Sinclair (3-3)
Top hitters: Matthew Mika (1-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 2B), Chandler Robertson (1-3, 1 R, 1 2B)
Top pitchers: Jordan Spicer (5 IP, 1 K, 2 H, 0 R), Zack Hunsicker (2 IP, 1 K, 1 H, 0 R), Jeffrey Hakanson (1 IP, 3 K, 1 H, 0 R)
NOTES
• UCF leads the all-time series 43-36.
• Matthew Mika was the catalyst for all three runs and notched his 22nd career multi-RBI game.
• Zack Hunsicker recorded his seventh appearance without allowing a run with at least one inning pitched.
• Jeffrey Hakanson now has a team-high 45 strikeouts on this season, all of which have come in relief.
• UCF committed one error on the night, snapping a four-game streak of error free ball.
UP NEXT
UCF will have a quick turnaround with a three-game series at Wichita State starting on Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET.
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