ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF (18-10, 3-0) pitching allowed a combined seven hits and four runs, while posting two one-hit shutouts, to sweep the South Florida Bulls (18-10, 0-3) and open conference play this weekend. The series sweep brings the War on I4 total to 42-12, clinching at least a tie of the trophy.
In game one, The Knights picked up where they left off on Friday, shutting down the USF offense. William Saxton, Ben Vespi and Chase Centala, combined to throw a no-hitter into the seventh inning, one-hitting the Bulls in the 4-0 victory.
Andrew Sundean opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, singling to center field to score Lex Boedicker. In the fifth, Ryan Taylor scampered across the plate to score on a wild pitch, before Ben McCabe launched a no-doubt home run in the sixth to extend the lead to 3-0. Taylor added an insurance run in the sixth, singling to right center to score Tom Josten.
In game two, USF scored its first runs of the weekend to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth. UCF responded in the fifth, scoring five runs to take the lead and shift momentum back to the home dugout. Sundean kicked off the inning with his first career home run to left field, a solo shot, to cut into the Bulls lead.
Gephry Pena later singled through the left side to score Michael Brooks from third, cutting the lead to 4-2. Lex Boedicker beat out a double play ball to score Josten from third on the fielder's choice, before McCabe singled to right center, over the shift, to score Pena and Boedicker to give the Knights a 5-4 lead.
Ruddy Gomez and Kyle Kramer combined to pitch five shutout innings on Sunday afternoon, striking out a combined seven batters and allowing two walks. Gomez was credited with the win improving to 3-0, while Kramer earns his second save of the year.
The Knights put the game away in the eighth, as Josten hit a sacrifice fly to right to score McCabe from third. Sundean scored on a wild pitch and Alex Freeland reached on an error to score Brooks from third to push the lead to 8-4.
SCORING MOMENTS – GAME 1
BOTTOM 4th | USF 0 – UCF 1 | Andrew Sundean singled to center field to score Lex Boedicker.
BOTTOM 5th | USF 0 – UCF 2 | Ryan Taylor scores on a wild pitch.
BOTTOM 6th | USF 0 – UCF 3 | Ben McCabe hit a solo home run to right.
BOTTOM 6th | USF 0 – UCF 4 | R. Taylor singled to right center to score Tom Josten.
SCORING MOMENTS – GAME 2
TOP 4th | USF 4 – UCF 0 | USF scored their first runs of the weekend.
BOTTOM 5th | USF 4 – UCF 5 | Andrew Sundean hits a solo home run to left field. Gephry Pena singles through the left side to score Michael Brooks from third. Lex Boedicker reaches on a fielder's choice to score Josten from third. Ben McCabe singles to right center to score Pena and Boedicker.
BOTTOM 8th | USF 4 – UCF 8 | Josten hits a sacrifice fly to right to score McCabe from third. Sundean scores on a wild pitch. Alex Freeland reaches on an error to score Brooks from third.
GAME NOTES
- Andrew Sundean hits his first career home run in the fifth inning of the second game to spark a five-run rally. His hitting streak is now eight straight games.
- UCF baseball recorded two one-hit shutouts to start the series, allowing a total of seven hits and four runs.
- The Knights now sit with six shutouts this season, after blanking USF in the first two games of the series this weekend.
- Ben McCabe finished the day 5-for-7 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
- Kyle Kramer earns his second save of the season, working the final three innings and striking out four.
- Head coach Greg Lovelady now sits at 299 career victories after sweeping USF this weekend.
- UCF tied the all-time series with USF at 76-76 with the sweep.
UP NEXT
UCF Baseball will now hit the road on Tuesday to take on the FAU Owls for the second time in the span of a week.