ORLANDO - Ben Vespi pitched six strong innings and UCF baseball knocked it out of the park five times to record the program’s inaugural Big 12 Conference victory over Oklahoma State, 13-2, on Friday night at John Euliano Park.
“The Knights are coming back,” starting pitcher Ben Vespi said. “Tonight’s performance was night and day compared to last week. We have the Knights fever and just go inning by inning. Tomorrow, we’ll come out ready to go.”
The senior right-hander Vespi didn’t allow a base runner to reach until the fifth inning, as he retired the Cowboys (11-7, 0-1 Big 12) in order in each of the first four innings. He finished the evening going 6.0 innings and surrendered just two runs on four hits while striking out four to improve to 2-0 on the year.
“He has had three really good starts over his last three outings. In Oklahoma, he gave us a chance and followed that up with this performance tonight on a day shorter rest. I couldn’t be prouder of him,” head coach Rich Wallace said.
Lex Boedicker led the Black and Gold (11-4, 1-3 Big 12) offensively on the night by going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBIs. He, Andrew Williamson, Andrew Estrella, and Jack Zyska all homered in the contest, and Williamson tallied his first career multiple home run game with two.
Andrew Brait got the ball rolling offensively for the Knights in the fourth with a leadoff single. In his first homer of the season, Boedicker sent Brait home to tally the first and second runs for the Knights. Andrew Sundean singled and quickly advanced to second after a walk from Matt Cedarburg. Sundean scored the last run of the inning on a wild pitch from Cowboys Sam Garcia.
OSU got back two runs in the top of the fifth. Vespi struck out two more batters, however, and got Lane Forsythe to ground out to end the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Mikey Kluska quickly singled and stole second base. Matt Prevesk advanced to first on ball four to set the stage for Brait. Brait bunted and on a fielding error, advanced to second and Kluska scored on the play for the Black and Gold’s fourth run.
Boedicker recorded his third and fourth RBIs of the game in the fifth with a two-run single. Boedicker stole second base while Sundean was at bat, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Zyska then drove him home with a sacrifice fly to left field and Williamson quickly added the final run of the inning with a solo home run to center field.
The Black and Gold defense rallied at the top of the sixth inning with a double play to prevent the Cowboys from scoring. Estrella and Kluska turned a nice 4-6-3 twin killing to end the threat. Estrella quickly followed with a leadoff home run in the last of the frame for his fifth of the season.
In the bottom of the seventh, Boedicker singled to right field. Zyska took the plate to swing yet another ball out of the park to record two more runs for the Knights. In the next play, Williamson homered for the second time of the game as the Black and Gold went back-to-back for the first time on the year. The two home run game for Willliamson marked a first for the freshman. The five home runs by the Knights marked the most by the team since May 13, 2023 when the team recorded six in a conference matchup against Cincinnati.
Kris Sosnowski took the mound at the top of the eighth and pitched another scoreless inning. Prevesk started the bottom of the eighth with a single to left field. After a single from Brait, Prevesk advanced to third. Boedicker took to plate and singled once more to bring Prevesk home for the final run of the night. Sosnowski concluded the contest with one final strikeout.
Boedicker recorded his season and tied his career high of four hits in the contest. The left-handed batter last did so when facing South Florida on May 6, 2022. The junior infielder was responsible for five of UCF’s 13 runs, tying Estrella and Brait with the most RBIs of the season.
The Knights will continue the series against Oklahoma State on Saturday at John Euliano Park at 6 p.m. The series will then conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will air live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.