ORLANDO, Fla. – Cincinnati baseball (23-29, 12-12) scored one run in the top of the ninth inning to take the regular-season finale from the Knights (32-23, 14-10), 6-5. UCF honored five senior student-athletes and four student managers on Friday.
UCF opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as one of the seniors recognized, Noah Orlando, hit a lead off solo home run to center field to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Ben McCabe drove in his 45th run of the season, a single through the left side to score Gephry Pena from second. Andrew Brait made his first start this season, flying out to center field in the first to score Tom Josten from third and give UCF a 3-0 lead.
Cincinnati responded in the top of the second, scoring three runs to level the game at 3-3. In the fifth, Michael Brooks was hit by a bases loaded pitch to score Pena from third and give the Knights the lead again, 4-3. The Bearcats once against responded in the sixth, scoring two runs to regain the lead, 5-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Ben McCabe hit his third home run of the season, one each game, a solo shot to left to tie the ballgame. Cincinnati went on to score a run in the top of the ninth, as the Knights went down in order in the bottom half.
UCF will await seeding in the American Athletic Conference Championships, needing an ECU win either tonight or tomorrow to clinch the number two seed. An opponent will be announced following the games being played on Saturday.
SCORING MOMENTS
BOTTOM 1st | CIN 0 – UCF 3 | Noah Orlando hits a leadoff solo home run to center field. Ben McCabe singles through the left side to score Gephry Pena from second. Andrew Brait flies out to center field to score Tom Josten from third.
TOP 2nd | CIN 3 – UCF 3 | Cincinnati ties the ballgame in the second.
BOTTOM 5th | CIN 3 – UCF 4 | Michael Brooks is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Pena from third.
TOP 6th | CIN 5 – UCF 4 | Bearcats take the lead in the sixth.
BOTTOM 7th | CIN 5 – UCF 5 | Ben McCabe hits a solo home run to left field.
TOP 9th | CIN 6 – UCF 5 | Bearcats take the lead in the ninth.
GAME NOTES
- Andrew Brait recorded his first RBI of the season, in his first start, after missing the first three months due to injury.
- Ben McCabe hit his sixth home run in the month of May, and third this weekend, a solo shot to left field in the seventh inning to tie the game.
- UCF pitching struck out 13 batters once again this afternoon, bringing the weekend total to 38.
- UCF needs a win by ECU either today or tomorrow to clinch the number two seed in the AAC Tournament.
UP NEXT
UCF will head to Clearwater, Florida to compete for the American Athletic Conference Championship. The Knights will play in the originally scheduled 4 p.m. game and will await the seven seed.