ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Behind Chris Williams’ fourth quality start of the year, the UCF baseball team evened its weekend series at Tulane on Saturday night with a 4-2 victory. The Knights homered twice on the night, courtesy of Dallas Beaver and Brandon Hernandez.
Chris Williams gave the UCF a much-needed long outing. The righty worked seven innings with five strikeouts and just one walk. Williams started strong, retiring the first six batters he faced. Williams scattered seven hits and allowed just a pair of runs.
While Williams was dealing on the mound, UCF opened an early four-run lead through four innings.
For the second straight game, the Knights struck in the first inning. After Ray Alejo roped a leadoff double down the left field line. After moving over to third, Alejo scored on an RBI ground out to second by Matthew Mika.
Two innings, later Dallas Beaver added to the lead. The junior crushed a 2-0 offering over the wall in right center for a solo shot that made it 2-0.
The Knights turned to the long ball again in the fourth inning. With one out and two out, Brandon Hernandez sent a 1-0 offering over the wall in left field for a two-run that gave the Black and Gold a 4-0 advantage.
Kyle Kemp notched his third save of the season. The graduate transfer struck out three over his two innings of work and only allowed one hit, a double off the wall in the eighth.
UCF (28-19, 8-12) – 4, Tulane (28-18, 10-6) – 2
Winning pitcher: Chris Williams (4-2)
Losing pitcher: Keagan Gillies (2-3)
Save: Kyle Kemp (3)
Top hitters: Dallas Beaver (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 HR), Matthew Mika (1-4, 1 RBI), Brandon Hernandez (1-3, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 HR)
Top pitchers: Chris Williams (7 IP, 5 K, 7 H, 2 ER), Kyle Kemp (2 IP, 3 K, 1 H, 0 R)
WILLY’S WORK OF ART
• Williams recorded his 15th career win at UCF. He also has a 7-5 mark all-time in conference play.
• The righty allowed just three leadoff batters to reach all night.
• The outing was Williams’ seventh outing of the year with no more than one walk allowed.
BACK, BACK, BACK, BACK
• The Knights have 12 multi-home run games this season.
• Dallas Beaver extended his team-leading home-run tally to 10.
• UCF has 29 solo homers out of 46 dingers this year.
NOTE
• The Knights enter their ninth rubber match of the year.
• Kyle Kemp dropped his bullpen-low ERA down to 1.82.
• Dallas Beaver extended his on-base streak to 15 games.
• Ray Alejo picked up his team-leading 15th double.
• UCF turned three double plays, all three of which ended innings.
• Saturday was the 15th time this season that the Knights have held an opponent to two runs or fewer. UCF is 60-2 in the Greg Lovelady era when holding opponents to two runs or fewer.
UP NEXT
The Knights will go for their first road series win of the year on Sunday with a 2 p.m. (ET) first pitch against Tulane. Jordan Spicer will make his 11th start of the year.
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