STATESBORO, Ga. – Hunter Patteson worked a solid seven innings of two-hit baseball, tying a career high with 10 strikeouts, as UCF defeated Georgia Southern 10-1 on Sunday to take the series. Patteson improves to 2-0 on the season, as UCF improves to 6-1 on the year.
UCF jumped out to an early lead in the fifth inning, as Gephry Pena homered to left center field, a two-run shot. Later in the inning, Tom Josten would single through the right side to score a pair of Knights.
In the seventh, UCF continued to pour on the runs, as Nick Romano homered to left field. Georgia Southern finally scored in the eighth when Noah Ledford singled through the right side to score a run.
The Knights were not done, scoring five more runs in the top of the ninth to secure the series and take home the rubber match. Zack Hunsicker worked one inning in relief, allowing two hits and striking out one batter. Kyle Kramer pitched the ninth inning, using only 10 pitches to close out the game.
UCF will now return home to host Stetson on Tuesday, before welcoming in No. 3 Ole Miss on the weekend.
SCORING MOMENTS
TOP 5th | GS 0 – UCF 4 | Gephry Pena homered to left center field, a two-run shot. Tom Josten singled through the right side to score a pair of Knights.
TOP 7th | GS 0 – UCF 5 | Nick Romano homered to left field.
BOTTOM 8th | GS 1 – UCF 5 | Georgia Southern scored to break the shutout.
TOP 9th | GS 1 – UCF 10 | Alex Freeland walked with the bases loaded to score Romano. Tom Josten singled to right field to score Michael Brooks and Ben McCabe. Riley Wash doubled to left field to score Josten and Freeland.
GAME NOTES
- Nick Romano finished the day 3-for-3 with two walks and a single shy of the cycle Sunday.
- Hunter Patteson tied a career-high 10 batters on Sunday afternoon, working seven innings to earn his second win of the season.
- Tom Josten led the team with four RBIs on the day, finishing 2-for-5 and scoring a run.
- UCF drew seven walks on the afternoon and posted 11 hits.
- Riley Wash and Gephry Pena both collected two RBIs on the day.
UP NEXT
UCF will return home on Tuesday for the first of four this week inside John Euliano Park. The Knights will host Stetson on Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.