WICHITA, Kan. – UCF Baseball (22-16, 6-4) scored five of its eight runs on Friday evening via the long ball to down Wichita State (13-25, 2-8), 8-5. Ben Vespi improves to 3-2 on the season, working 4.1 innings out of the pen to shut down the Shockers. Vespi struck out five batters and did not allow a hit until the ninth inning.
In the top of the second, Michael Brooks opened the scoring with a two-run home run to center field. Wichita State tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to level the game at 2-2. In the third, UCF regained the lead with a singled to third base, allowing Lex Boedicker to score on an error.
Wichita State responded in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead, before the Knights broke through in the sixth. Tom Josten laid down a sacrifice squeeze to score Noah Orlando and two batters later Trent Taylor hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field.
In the seventh, Andrew Sundean crushed a no doubt home run to left field and was met at the plate by the Shockers catcher. Warnings were issued to both benches as the Knights took a 7-4 lead. In the top of the ninth, Ryan Taylor singled to left field to score Sundean from second, as the Shockers catcher dropped the ball on the tag.
The Shockers added pressure in the ninth, scoring a run off a double to left center field. Kyle Kramer came in with one out in the ninth to close out the game and record his third save of the season, getting two pop outs to end it.
SCORING MOMENTS
TOP 2nd | WSU 0 – UCF 2 | Michael Brooks homers to center field, a two-run shot.
BOTTOM 2nd | WSU 2 – UCF 2 | Wichita State ties the ballgame in the second.
TOP 3rd | WSU 2 – UCF 3 | Andrew Sundean singles to third and Lex Boedicker scores on an error.
BOTTOM 3rd | WSU 4 – UCF 3 | The Shockers take the lead in the third.
TOP 6th | WSU 4 – UCF 6 | Tom Josten lays down a sacrifice squeeze to score Noah Orlando from third. Trent Taylor hits a two-run home run to left.
TOP 7th | WSU 4 – UCF 7 | Sundean hits a no doubt home run to left field.
TOP 9th | WSU 4 – UCF 8 | Ryan Taylor singles to left to score Sundean from second.
BOTTOM 9th | WSU 5 – UCF 8 | Wichita State adds a run in the ninth.
GAME NOTES
- Michael Brooks hit his third home run of the season to center field, a two-run home run.
- Trent Taylor hit his first home run of the season, a two-run home run to left field onto the road.
- Andrew Sundean crushed a no doubt home run in the seventh for his third of the season. He finished the night 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.
- Ben Vespi worked 4.1 innings allowing one run and two hits to improve to 3-2 on the season.
- Kyle Kramer recorded the final two outs of the game to earn his third save of the year.
UP NEXT
UCF and Wichita State continue the three-game set on Saturday afternoon from Eck Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.