ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF Baseball (25-17, 9-5) committed three errors on Saturday evening, allowing only two earned runs, falling to Tulane (27-16-1, 9-5) 7-5. The Green Wave scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take the lead and secure a series evening victory.
Zack Hunsicker was pegged with the loss, allowing three-unearned runs and striking out two batters. He falls to 2-1 on the season, while Zach Devito improves to 3-1 for the Green Wave.
The 'Naut's struck first in the bottom of the third, as Noah Orlando scored on a wild pitch. Tulane answered in the top of the fourth, before UCF regained the lead once again in the fifth. Ben McCabe hit his fifth home run of the season; a two-run shot to left field to extend the lead to 3-1.
Tulane went on to score runs in the sixth and seventh to level the game at 3-3, before Gephry Pena's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead. In the eighth, the Green Wave scored three runs to take their first lead of the ballgame, before adding some insurance in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to 7-4.
UCF scratched across a run with runners in scoring position and one out in the ninth, as Tom Josten singled to center field to score Orlando from third. With runners on the corners, Michael Brooks grounded into a 1-6-3 double play to end the game and even the series.
The two sides will play for the rubber match tomorrow afternoon at John Euliano Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
SCORING MOMENTS
BOTTOM 3rd | TUL 0 – UCF 1 | Noah Orlando scores on a wild pitch.
TOP 4th | TUL 1 – UCF 1 | Tulane evens the score in the fourth.
BOTTOM 5th | TUL 1 – UCF 3 | Ben McCabe hits a two-run home run to left field.
TOP 6th | TUL 2 – UCF 3 | The Green Wave cut the lead on a passed ball.
TOP 7th | TUL 3 – UCF 3 | Tulane ties the ballgame in the seventh.
BOTTOM 7th | TUL 3 – UCF 4 | Gephry Pena hits a solo home run to left field.
TOP 8th | TUL 6 – UCF 4 | Tulane take their first lead of the game.
TOP 9th | TUL 7 – UCF 4 | Tulane adds some insurance in the ninth.
BOTTOM 9th | TUL 7 – UCF 5 | Tom Josten singled to center field to score Orlando from third.
GAME NOTES
- Gephry Pena's home run was his first in 20 games, a solo shot to left field.
- UCF had its four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday evening at john Euliano Park.
- Noah Orlando finished the evening 3-for-4 with three runs scored, one of two Knights to finish with multiple hits.
- UCF pitchers struck out 10 Green Wave batters on Saturday.
- Both squads combined to use 12 pitchers in Saturday's 7-5 matchup.
UP NEXT
UCF and Tulane will complete the three-game set tomorrow afternoon at John Euliano Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.