MEMPHIS, Tenn. – UCF Baseball (20-12, 5-1) pumped out a season high 19 hits and scored 10 runs in the first inning to defeat Memphis (13-15, 1-5), 15-6 and clinch the series. Zack Hunsicker picked up his second win in relief this season, improving to 2-0 with 2.1 innings of no-hit baseball.
UCF jumped out to a commanding lead in the first inning, as Lex Boedicker began to hit parade with a single to right to score Gephry Pena. Ben McCabe later doubled down the line in left to score Alex Freeland, before the fireworks began in Memphis.
Andrew Sundean hit a three-run home run to left field, but the Tigers checked the bat for illegal use of pine tar. Head coach Greg Lovelady and Memphis starting pitcher were both ejected. The umpires would hold a conference and reverse the call, pushing the score to 5-0. Ryan Taylor immediately followed up the three-run bomb, with a solo shot of his own. Alex Freeland drove in two of his four runs in the first on a doubled to left center.
Noah Orlando doubled to left center to score Freeland and Boedicker singled up the middle to score Orlando and give the Knights a 10-0 lead. Memphis would score two in the second and four in the third to cut the lead to 10-6, before UCF erupted late in the game.
In the fifth, Freeland singled to left field to score two more of his RBIs. In the eighth, Pablo Ruiz crushed a three-run home run to left field, the third for the Knights, to secure a 15-6 win.
SCORING MOMENTS
TOP 1st | MEM 0 – UCF 10 | Lex Boedicker singles to right to score Gephry Pena. Ben McCabe doubled down the line in left to score Alex Freeland. Andrew Sundean hits a three-run home run. Ryan Taylor homers to left center. Freeland doubles to left center to score Pena and Pablo Ruiz. Noah Orlando doubled to left center to score Freeland. Lex Boedicker singles up the middle to score Orlando.
BOTTOM 2nd | MEM 2 – UCF 10 |Memphis scores a pair in the second.
BOTTOM 3rd | MEM 6 – UCF 10 | Memphis cuts the lead to four.
TOP 5th | MEM 6 – UCF 12 | Freeland singles to left field to score Pena and Michael Brooks.
TOP 8th | MEM 6 – UCF 15 | Ruiz hits a three-run home run to left field.
GAME NOTES
- UCF sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs in the first inning against Memphis on Sunday.
- The Knights collected a season high 19 hits in Sunday's series clinching victory over Memphis.
- Three different Knights hit home runs on Sunday's 15-6 victory. Pablo Ruiz, Andrew Sundean and Ryan Taylor.
- Alex Freeland followed up his five RBI night last evening, with a 2-for-5 day, driving in four more RBIs.
- Gephry Pena finished the day 4-for-5 with three runs scored and a walk.
- Zack Hunsicker improves to 2-0 on the season, working 2.1 innings of no-hit baseball.
UP NEXT
UCF will take on Jacksonville University on Tuesday evening. First pitch between the Knights and the Dolphins is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Jacksonville, Florida.