New Orleans, La. – The Knights' pitching staff combined for 17 strikeouts to tie the single-game season high and Ben McCabe led the offensive charge en route to the UCF baseball team's 5-3 victory in the series opener against Tulane at Turchin Stadium Friday night.
McCabe drove in three of the Knights' five runs, going 2-4 with a home run and extending his season total to 16 to tie for fifth in single-season home runs.
Tulane (13-33, 6-10 AAC) scored the first runs of the weekend in the bottom of the first inning on two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly which gave the Green Wave an early 3-0 lead.
Following the first inning, Ruddy Gomez, Najer Victor, Kyle Kramer and Chase Centala combined to allow only three hits and no runs through the remaining eight innings. Victor threw two perfect innings of relief, entering the game with runners on second and third base and no outs in the bottom of the fifth, he struck out three to end the inning. Kramer also saw six and retired six, throwing two innings of no-hit ball out of the bullpen. Centala struck out three in the ninth, bringing the staff's total to 17 to tie the season single-game record.
The Knights (26-19, 7-9 AAC) got on the board in the top of the third inning with McCabe's towering two-run home run to left field. Brait scored from third on the homer, on base after ripping a 1-1 pitch to right field for his team-leading third triple of the year.
In the top of the fifth, McCabe notched his third RBI of the night on a double down the right field line, scoring Tom Josten who had drawn a full-count walk.
Tied 3-3 through the bottom of the eighth, the Knights put together a final offensive drive in the ninth, capitalizing on a few Green Wave mistakes to seal the game. Brait drew a four-pitch walk and McCabe was hit by a pitch. After advancing on a wild pitch, Brait scored from third on an RBI single from Sundean to break the tie. McCabe came across on a wild pitch to tack on an insurance run for the Knights.
Kramer was credited with the win in the contest, earning his third of the year, and Centala notched his first save of the year.
The Knights will return to Turchin Stadium to continue the American Athletic Conference series against the Green Wave 6 p.m. (CDT) Saturday, May 6.
