ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Earlier in the week, freshman Jay Lyons was thrust into the starting lineup. Over the course of four games, the rookie constantly made veteran plays and key contributions.
They all paled in comparison to a clutch two-out walk-off single to clinch the UCF baseball team’s weekend series.
With the series finale tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and runners on the corners, the rookie laced the first pitch he saw down the third base line for the game-winning RBI single. The walk-off hit gave the Knights a 7-6 win over Memphis at John Euliano Park.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be in that position as a freshman,” Lyons said. “After seeing the guys ahead of me extend the inning, I went up there wanting to put the ball in play. I got one I could hit on the first pitch and let it do its work.”
UCF rallied from a pair of multi-run deficits to set up Lyon’s first career game-winning hit.
“That was a really big win,” head coach Greg Lovelady said. “I’m really proud of Jordan Spicer for the way he pitched. He had a rough first two innings, but he came back and threw four great innings after that. Offensively, we kept chipping away. We really felt like we were going to win the game today. I’m really proud of Jay Lyons. He had three more hits today, including the walk-off. When you prepare like he does, I knew he was going to be ready when the situation came to him.”
Memphis jumped out to a 4-0 lead through two innings of play. The Tigers scored an unearned run in the first, before driving in a trio of runs with the bases loaded in the second.
UCF pulled a run back in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Dallas Beaver put the Knights on the board when he scored from on a hit-and-run by Matthew Mika, aided by a fielding error by the center fielder.
An inning later, Brandon Hernandez worked his way over to third after a bunt single, a base knock by Jay Lyons and a passed ball. Freshman Ben McCabe then laced a deep fly ball to center for an RBI sacrifice fly.
The Knights closed the gap down to one in the fifth. After a Matthew Mika leadoff double, Anthony George drove an 0-2 delivery back up the middle on a hit-and-run for an RBI single.
While the Black and Gold scratched back from the four-run gap, starter Jordan Spicer settled into the zone. The senior carved through four straight 1-2-3 innings to keep UCF within striking distance. The Hialeah, Fla., native finished with four strikeouts over six innings of work and scattered five hits.
The Tigers reopened a three-run lead in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs on three hits, only for the Black and Gold to tie things up in the bottom half.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Brandon Hernandez lofted a single out to center field, which plated a pair. Anthony George made his way to third on the throw home by left fielder Hunter Goodman, which sailed into the UCF dugout, and George was waved home to tie the game.
Garrett Westberg and Jeffrey Hakanson teamed up to keep the Tigers off the board in the eighth, before Jaylyn Whitehead worked around a pair of runners in the ninth to keep the game tied.
Matthew Mika started the bottom of the ninth with a five-pitch walk, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dalton Wingo. The senior then broke for third to set up the two-out single by Lyons.
UCF (16-18, 7-11) – 7, Memphis (21-20, 6-8) – 6
Winning pitcher: Jaylyn Whitehead (5-2)
Losing pitcher: Colton Neel (0-1)
Top hitters: Jay Lyons (3-5, 1 RBI), Matthew Mika (3-3, 3 R, 1 BB), Brandon Hernandez (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB)
Top pitchers: Jordan Spicer (6 IP, 4 K, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER), Garrett Westberg (1 IP, 2 K, 2 H, 0 R), Jeffrey Hakanson (0.2 IP, 2 K, 0 H), Jaylyn Whitehead (1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 H, 0 R)
THE SPICE WAS RIGHT
• Spicer retired the final 14 batters he faced.
• The righty needed just 49 pitches to work through his final four innings.
• The senior made his second start on the week and totaled 11 innings with six strikeouts over the two contests.
LYON IN WAIT
• Jay Lyons made just his fourth career start for the Black and Gold.
• The Tampa native recorded his second three-hit game of the series, the only Knight to do so.
• The freshman finished the week with a .412 batting average, four RBI and one stolen base.
NOTES
• Memphis now leads the all-time series 23-22.
• Dallas Beaver extended his team-long on-base streak to 12 games.
• The Knights are now 4-1 in walk-offs this season.
• Jeffrey Hakanson struck out both batters he faced and now has 52 punchouts on the year.
• Jaylyn Whitehead secured his team-leading fifth win.
• Matthew Mika stole a pair of bases to take his team-leading tally to 24 on the year.
UP NEXT
UCF will hit the road for the next four games, starting on Tuesday at North Florida at 6 p.m.
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