ORLANDO, Fla. – Samford (11-8) baseball scored one run in the extra frame on Friday evening to defeat UCF Baseball (13-9), 4-3. Kyle Kramer was pegged with the loss, allowing one run on two hits in his two innings of work.
UCF opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, when Ben Rushing laid down a squeeze bunt to score Tom Josten from third. Samford answered with a run of their own in the top of the third, before the Knights once again bunted to extend the lead to 2-1. Ben McCabe laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached second on an error, as Noah Orlando came around to score.
Andrew Sundean kept the inning alive, slicing a two-strike single to right field to score Ben McCabe from third, pushing the lead to 3-1. Samford answered once again in the eighth, leveling the score on a two-run home run at three apiece. UCF and Samford would head to extras and in the 10th, the Bulldogs pushed across the eventual game winning run.
William Saxton had himself a career day, working 5.2 innings and allowing four hits. The outing was the longest of his career and also was his first weekend start.
SCORING MOMENTS
BOTTOM 2nd | SAM 0 – UCF 1 | Ben Rushing lays down a sacrifice squeeze to score Tom Josten from third.
TOP 3rd | SAM 1 – UCF 1 | Samford ties the ballgame in the top of the third.
BOTTOM 6th | SAM 1 – UCF 3 | Ben McCabe lays down a sacrifice bunt and reaches second on an error, scoring Noah Orlando from second. Andrew Sundean singles to right to score Ben McCabe from third.
TOP 8th | SAM 3 – UCF 3 | Samford homers to tie the ballgame.
TOP 10th | SAM 4 – UCF 3 | Samford takes the lead in the 10th.
GAME NOTES
- William Saxton had his longest career outing on Friday night, making his first start on the weekend in his career. He went 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and striking out one.
- Gephry Pena stole his 15th base of the season, as the Knights have now accumulated 53 stolen bases this season.
- Alex Freeland was the only Knight with multiple hits on Friday, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and two walks.
UP NEXT
UCF and Samford will continue the three-game set on Saturday evening at John Euliano Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.