ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF Baseball (31-21) scored six runs, all by two home runs, in the bottom of the third to defeat Bethune-Cookman (23-29), 10-2 in five innings. Zack Hunsicker improves to 3-1 on the season, allowing one run on one hit.
Bethune-Cookman opened the scoring in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half, as Gephry Pena hit his seventh home run of the season to level the score at one a piece. In the third, UCF took the lead as Lex Boedicker and Cole Russo hit three-run home runs to push the score to 10-1.
The Wildcats added a run in the top of the fourth, homering to right field, before UCF added three more in the bottom half. Noah Orlando scored on a passed ball to extend the lead to 8-2, before Ben McCabe singled to left field to score Josten and Boedicker.
UCF will end the regular season hosting Cincinnati this weekend in a pivotal conference series. First pitch is scheduled for Thursday evening at 6 p.m. from John Euliano Park.
SCORING MOMENTS
TOP 1st | B-CU 1 – UCF 0 | Bethune-Cookman opens the scoring in the first.
BOTTOM 1st | B-CU 1 – UCF 1 | Gephry Pena hits a solo home run to left.
BOTTOM 3rd | B-CU 1 – UCF 7 | Lex Boedicker hits a three-run home run to right field. Cole Russo hits a three-run home run to center field.
TOP 4th | B-CU 2 – UCF 7 | The Wildcats cut into the lead in the fourth.
BOTTOM 4th | B-CU 2 – UCF 10 | Noah Orlando scores on a passed ball. Ben McCabe singles to left and is thrown out advancing to second, scoring Josten and Boedicker.
GAME NOTES
- UCF reached a double-digit run total for the 13th time this season, improving to 12-1 on the season when reaching that tally.
- Three Knights homered in Tuesday's victory over Bethune-Cookman. Gephry Pena, Lex Boedicker and Cole Russo all homered, with Boedicker and Russo's being three-run home runs.
- The Knights scored six runs in the bottom of the third inning, all off home runs.
- Cole Russo's home run was his second of the season and his first at John Euliano Park.
UP NEXT
UCF will conclude the regular season with a three-game set against Cincinnati. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday.