JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UCF Baseball (21-12) scored three runs in two separate innings to defeat the Jacksonville Dolphins (16-14), 6-1. Cameron Crain picked up his first win of the season, in his first start, working four innings of one-hit baseball.
UCF opened the scoring in the top of the third, as Ben McCabe singled to left field to score Noah Orlando and Alex Freeland. Tom Josten followed later than inning with a single to left to score Lex Boedicker and extend the Knights lead to 3-0.
Crain worked through the fourth, allowing one hit and striking out two batters. He induced six flyouts and four ground balls, to keep the Dolphins off the basepaths. Jacksonville would record their first hit in the fourth inning, before cutting into the lead with a run in the sixth.
In the ninth UCF added some insurance runs, as Boedicker singled to left field to score Freeland. Andrew Sundean tallied two more RBIs on the season, doubling to left field to extend the Knights lead to 6-1.
Four UCF pitchers worked in relief on Tuesday, allowing one or more inning each. Zack Hunsicker worked 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Ben Vespi worked a clean inning in the eighth, before Chase Centala closed out the game in the ninth. UCF pitchers only walked two batters on the night.
SCORING MOMENTS
TOP 3rd | JU 0 – UCF 3 | Ben McCabe singled to left field to score Noah Orlando and Alex Freeland. Tom Josten singled to left field to score Lex Boedicker.
BOTTOM 6th | JU 1 – UCF 3 | Jacksonville finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth.
TOP 9th | JU 1 – UCF 6 | Boedicker singles to left field to score Freeland. Andrew Sundean doubled to left field to score McCabe and Trent Taylor.
GAME NOTES
- Gephry Pena moved into third all-time stealing his 60th career base in the first inning. Pena is now eight stolen bases away from tying second all-time.
- Andrew Sundean continued his hot streak and hitting streak to 12 games, with an RBI double down the line in left.
- Cameron Crain completed four innings of one hit baseball in his first start, earning the victory.
- Alex Freeland picked up where he left off, finishing the night 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- UCF pitching combined to allow just one run, on four hits to close out the ballgame.
UP NEXT
UCF will step back into conference play, hosting the second place East Carolina Pirates. First pitch will be on Thursday 6 p.m. from John Euliano Park.