ORLANDO – The UCF baseball team will close a five-game homestand on Tuesday evening against Florida Atlantic.
The midweek in-state contest will begin at 6 p.m. at John Euliano Park and will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available via ucf.statbroadcast.com.
UCF will enter the game with a 12-5 overall record and a 2-4 Big 12 Conference clip after winning its first Big 12 series over the weekend against Oklahoma State. The Knights took two of three from the Cowboys, who won a share of the 2023 Big 12 title and have made 10 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances. UCF is currently receiving votes for the top 25 in both the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches and NCBWA polls and ranked seventh nationally on the RPI.
The Black and Gold got off to a strong start in the OSU series by claiming Friday’s opener 13-2 and followed that up with a ninth-inning rally to win Saturday’s ballgame in walk-off fashion, 4-3. Despite a late offensive push in Sunday’s finale, the Pokes managed to salvage a game of the series by taking Sunday’s finale by a score of 16-10.
In Friday’s opener, Ben Vespi pitched 6.0 strong innings and UCF belted out a season-high five home runs on its way to recording its inaugural Big 12 victory by a score of 13-2 over OSU. Vespi didn’t allow a base runner to reach until the fifth inning, as he retired the Cowboys in order in each of the first four innings. He ended up surrendering just two runs on four hits while striking out four over a season-long 6.0 innings to improve to 2-0 on the year.
Lex Boedicker led the Knights 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 on the night with two.
With UCF trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth on Saturday, Andrew Sundean ignited a ninth-inning rally by belting out a 3-2 pitch to right center for a game-tying home run. The Knights went on to load the bases and Matt Prevesk ended it by taking one for the team for a rare walk-off hit by pitch to help the Black and Gold secure its first Big 12 series.
Sundean led UCF offensively in Saturday’s game by going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Dom Stagliano started on the mound and allowed just one run on three hits while fanning five over 5.1 innings. Chase Centala earned the win in relief after giving up just one unearned run over the final 2.2 innings to improve to 2-0.
The Cowboy offense responded in Sunday’s finale by jumping out to an early 13-4 lead, but UCF countered back with six runs over the final three innings to make a game out of it. Danny Neri had a three-run pinch-hit home run in the seventh and Zyska and Matt Cedarburg both added solo shots in the eighth to pull the Knights to within 14-10. The Pokes would go on to add a couple of insurance runs in the ninth to claim the finale by a score of 16-10.
Neri led the Black and Gold off the bench by going 2-for-2 with three RBIs wile Matt Prevesk went 3-for-6 with two runs batted in. A total of eight pitchers appeared in the game for UCF.
Over the OSU series, Cedarburg led the Black and Gold by batting .429 while Prevesk followed with a .385 average. Williamson and Zyska each homered twice, and Boedicker led the way in RBIs with six. On the mound, Spencer Bauer, Chase Centala, and Tyler Nesbitt all didn’t allow an earned run and Vespi and Centala both earned wins.
On the season, junior outfielder Prevesk paces the Knights with a .371 average. He also has six extra-base hits, 15 RBIs and 14 runs scored. Senior outfielder Zyska is next with a .339 clip, four homers, three doubles, 17 runs scored and 13 RBIs. Junior second baseman Estrella leads the club in the power numbers with five homers, five doubles and 20 RBIs. On the mound, the right-hander Vespi is the team’s top starting pitcher as he holds a 2-0 record, 3.20 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 25.1 innings pitched. Kyle Kramer and Centala lead the way from the bullpen, as they each hold 2-0 records, have five combined saves and have made 18 combined appearances.
Probable Starting Pitchers for Tuesday
Junior RHP Wiley Hartley is scheduled to make his second straight midweek start for the Knights on Tuesday. In his first collegiate start last Wednesday vs. Stetson, Hartley went a career-long 5.2 innings and gave up just one run on two hits while striking out a career-high six to earn the win and improve to 1-1 on the year. Southpaw Zach Abbey (1-1, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to start for FAU.
About Florida Atlantic
The Owls will come to Orlando with a 12-6 overall record and having won five straight and seven of their last eight ballgames. During the five-game winning streak, FAU picked up home wins over FIU and Miami, and most recently swept a three-game non-conference series over Maine over the weekend. Florida Atlantic went 34-25 a season ago and tied for fourth in its final season of competition in Conference USA with a 16-14 league clip. FAU, who now calls the American Athletic Conference home, was picked to finish fourth in the AAC this year and will open league play against Charlotte this weekend.
John Schroeder leads the Owls with a .344 average, 21 RBIs and nine extra-base hits. Christian Adams is next with a .338 batting average and a team-high 25 runs scored, while Brando Leroux follows with a .333 average. Carter Brady leads the team in home runs with four. Tyler Murphy is FAU’s top starting pitcher with a 3-0 record and a 1.42 ERA, while C.J. Williams is off to a 4-0 start and paces the team in strikeouts with 26 in 28.2 innings.
Tuesday’s game will mark the second and final season meeting between UCF and FAU. Behind a strong start from Cade Boxrucker and a season-high 19 hits from the offense, the Black and Gold took the first game of the year, 11-6, on Feb. 27 in Boca Raton.
All-Time Series
UCF will enter Tuesday holding to a 48-41 all-time advantage over FAU. The Owls hold a slight 24-23 lead with games played in Orlando, but the Knights have won two of the last three meetings played at John Euliano Park.
Knights 6-1 vs. Sunshine State Foes
UCF is off to a 6-1 start against in-state foes in 2024 thanks to road wins over No. 4 Florida, Miami, Florida Atlantic and taking two of three from rival South Florida at home as well as a midweek victory over Stetson. In all, UCF is scheduled to face 16 Sunshine State opponents in 2024. A season ago, UCF went 11-7 vs. in-state foes, which included a pair of wins over No. 21 Florida State.
On Deck
Following Tuesday’s midweek, the Black and Gold will head to Lawrence, Kansas, to face the Kansas Jayhawks for a three-game conference series. The series will run Friday to Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark and all three games will air live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.