ORLANDO, Fla. – Ben Vespi worked out of a second and third jam in the ninth inning to defeat the Osprey and earn his first save of the year. UCF improves to 4-0 on the season, while UNF falls to 1-3. Zack Hunsicker earned his first win of the season, working 1.2 innings.
Chase Centala made his UCF debut on Tuesday, working 3.1 innings and allowing one unearned run. Cylis cox, Zack Hunsicker, William Saxton and Ben Vespi would all work an inning or more to finish the ballgame.
Gephry Pena would open the scoring in the first, lacing a first pitch triple to right field. Tom Josten would follow with a single up the middle to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. In the second, Pena would strike again, homering to center field to increase the UCF lead.
UNF would answer in the bottom of the third, when Aidan Sweatt singled to drive in a run in the third. The Osprey would tie the ballgame in the fifth, as Cade Westrbook singled up the middle. The Knights and Osprey would strand runners the next inning, before UCF had runners on second and third with two outs. Trent Taylor would scamper home on a wild pitch, but Noah Orlando was thrown out trying to double the lead.
The Knights will now head to Statesboro, Georgia to face off against Georgia Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday from J.I. Clements Stadium.
SCORING MOMENTS
TOP 1st | UNF 0 – UCF 1 | Tom Josten singles up the middle to score Gephry Pena from third.
TOP 2nd | UNF 0 – UCF 2 | Gephry Pena homers to center field.
BOTTOM 3rd | UNF 1 – UCF 2 | UNF gets one back in the bottom of the third.
BOTTOM 5th | UNF 2 – UCF 2 | UNF ties the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth.
TOP 7th | UNF 2 – UCF 3 | Trent Taylor scores on a wild pitch.
GAME NOTES
- UCF pitching allowed the first earned run of the season on Tuesday.
- Gephry Pena finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Pena homered and tripled in the ballgame.
- Chase Centala made his UCF debut on Tuesday working 3.1 innings and striking out one batter.
- Ben Vespi earned his first save of the season, recording the final three outs and pitching out of a jam in the ninth.
UP NEXT
UCF will travel to Statesboro, Georgia to take on the Georgia Southern Eagles. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from J.I. Clements Stadium.