MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Head Coach Greg Lovelady picked up career victory number 300 on Saturday afternoon, as the Citronauts (19-12, 4-1) run-ruled Memphis (13-14, 1-4) 13-3 in seven innings.
UCF opened the scoring with five runs in the first inning, as Alex Freeland got the 'Nauts on the board with a solo home run to left field. Lex Boedicker doubled to right center to score Noah Orlando to extend the lead to 2-0. Andrew Sundean continued to stay hot for UCF, doubling to left center to score Boedicker. Ryan Taylor added the fourth extra base hit of the inning, scoring Ben McCabe to extend the lead to 5-0.
In the second, UCF continued to put the barrel on the ball when Boedicker singled to right field to score Freeland. Later in the inning, McCabe singled through the left side to score Orlando and put the Citronauts up 7-0.
Memphis cut the UCF lead to 7-2 with a two-run home run of their own, before the 'Nauts added two more in the third off Freeland's second home run of the day, this time a two-run blast to left field. In the sixth, UCF would extend its lead to 10-2, as Andrew Sundean recorded his second hit of the afternoon.
Freeland proceeded to stay hot in the seventh, collecting his fourth hit of the afternoon. He doubled to right center to score Pablo Ruiz and Gephry Pena as the Citronauts extended their lead to 13-2.
Hunter Patteson returned to the starting rotation, working two innings of four hit baseball. He allowed two runs and struck out one batter. Ben Vespi followed up Patteson, with four strong innings out of the pen. Vespi allowed two hits and struck out three batters, as UCF recorded six on the day.
Chase Centala worked the final inning, striking out two batters and allowing one run on three hits.
SCORING MOMENTS
TOP 1st | MEM 0 – UCF 5 | Alex Freeland homered to left field. Lex Boedicker doubled to right center to score Noah Orlando. Andrew Sundean doubled to left center to score Boedicker. Ryan Taylor doubled down the line in right to score Ben McCabe.
TOP 2nd | MEM 0 – UCF 7 | Lex Boedicker singled to right field scoring Freeland. McCabe singled through the left side to score Orlando.
BOTTOM 2nd | MEM 2 – UCF 7 | Memphis scores a pair in the second.
TOP 3rd | MEM 2 – UCF 9 | Alex Freeland hit a two-run home run to left field.
TOP 6th | MEM 2 – UCF 10 | Sundean doubled to right center to score McCabe.
TOP 7th | MEM 2 – UCF 13 | Freeland doubled to right center to score Gephry Pena and Pablo Ruiz.
BOTTOM 7th | MEM 3 – UCF 13 | Memphis adds one more to their total.
GAME NOTES
- Alex Freeland finished the afternoon 4-for-5 with four runs scored, five RBIs, two home runs and a double. A triple shy of the cycle. It was his second multi-home run game of the season.
- Lex Boedicker drove in three runs himself, after a 3-for-5 afternoon.
- Andrew Sundean tallied two hits, both for extra bases, while driving in two RBIs.
- Ben Vespi improves to 2-2 on the season, allowing two hits and striking out three batters.
- Five different 'Nauts drove in runs on Saturday afternoon in Memphis.
- Head coach Greg Lovelady won career game number 300.
- UCF is now 9-0 when scoring 10 or more runs in a game this season.
UP NEXT
UCF and Memphis will play for the rubber match tomorrow afternoon at FedExPark. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.