ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Despite a leadoff home run, the UCF baseball team could not keep pace with Tulane on Friday night at Turchin Stadium, falling 6-2 in the series opener.
Ray Alejo gave the Knights a perfect start in the top of the first. On the first pitch of the game, the redshirt junior roped a solo home run to right. It was the second time this year that Alejo started a game with a home run on the first pitch.
Tulane punched back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, before a two-run second opened a 4-1 lead for the hosts.
UCF struggled to find an answer to Green Wave starting pitcher Kaleb Roper in the opening stages. After Alejo’s homer, the Knights did not put a runner on base until the fifth inning.
In turn, Grant Schuermann shook off the rough start. The southpaw held Tulane off the board for the next three innings, retiring eight in a row at one point. Schuermann made his exit after seven innings with two strikeouts, one walk and six runs against.
Down by five entering the ninth, Dallas Beaver started the frame with a solo shot over the wall in dead center to pull a run back.
UCF (27-19, 7-12) – 2, Tulane (28-17, 10-5) – 6
Winning pitcher: Kaleb Roper (6-4)
Losing pitcher: Grant Schuermann (5-5)
Top hitters: Ray Alejo (1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 HR), Dallas Beaver (1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 HR)
Top pitchers: Zack Hunsicker (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R)
NOTE
• Zack Hunsicker rolled off a 1-2-3 eighth inning for his one frame of work.
• Dallas Beaver retook the team lead with his ninth home run of the year.
• Alejo’s home run in the first was the Knights ninth in the first inning.
• The two homers were the 16th and 17th to start an inning this season.
• Beaver extended his active team-leading on-base streak to 14 games.
UP NEXT
The Knights will look to even the series on Saturday night. First pitch is at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
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