JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The UCF baseball team fell to the UNF Ospreys 4-2 in a heartbreaker at Harmon Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. on Tuesday.
The two power-hitting teams flipped the script for their second meeting of the season, playing out a pitcher's duel that was tied 1-1 entering the seventh inning. The Knights led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but catcher Jakob Runnels hit a three-run shot for the Ospreys to take their first and final lead of the game, walking it off for UNF.
After getting off to a slow start, Andrew Brait led off the third inning with a single to the shortstop. A bloop single to center field by Tom Josten put runners on the corners and Andrew Sundean followed, loading the bases on a hit by pitch with one away. Lex Boedicker drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Knights on the board first in the third.
The Ospreys answered in the bottom of the inning, plating second baseman Aiden Sweatt on a wild pitch, who stole second and third base after reaching on a walk.
Cameron Crain retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth for the first half-inning of the game with no baserunners for either team. The pitcher's duel continued into the sixth inning and Crain went steady for the Knights, allowing only one hit and fanning three over his 3.2 innings of work.
McCabe and Sundean singled back-to-back in the seventh inning and Boedicker followed with a single of his own to score McCabe. Boedicker's second RBI of the night was his 18th of the season.
In a five-hit game for the Ospreys, the final hit proved to be the difference. With two runners on for UNF, Runnels barreled his third home run in two games against the Knights, walking it off for the Ospreys.
UNF evened up the season series to one apiece. The two teams look to face off one more time in 2023 on May 2 at John Euliano Park.
UP NEXT
The Knights return to John Euliano Park this weekend to host a three-game series against RV Maryland Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (6 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).