Vespi Tosses Six Strong Frames to Lead UCF to Game One Win at BaylorVespi Tosses Six Strong Frames to Lead UCF to Game One Win at Baylor

Vespi Tosses Six Strong Frames to Lead UCF to Game One Win at Baylor

by James Warnick
Box Score

WACO, Texas – Ben Vespi tossed six solid innings and Kris Sosnowski came on late to record the save, as UCF picked up a 6-4 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Baylor on Friday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark.

Offensively, the Knights (32-17, 13-14 Big 12) scored four early runs and added a pair of much-needed insurance runs late to hold on to top the Bears (21-30, 9-19 Big 12). The Black and Gold will go for the doubleheader sweep in the nightcap this evening at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT.

The Knights got off to a strong start by loading the bases with nobody out in the top of the second inning and scoring a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 advantage. Lex Boedicker started things off by getting hit by a pitch, Matt Cedarburg followed with a single to right, and Danny Neri loaded things up by drawing a walk on a lengthy at bat. Freshman Andrew Williamson followed by plating Boedicker from third with an RBI fielder’s choice to third base to make it 1-0. Braden Calise then followed with an RBI single up the middle to bring in Neri from second.

After the UCF starter Vespi retired the Bears in order in the last of the second, the Knights then tacked on another run in the third to extend their early lead to 3-0. Matt Prevesk led off the frame with a triple down the leftfield line and Jack Zyska quickly drove him in with a hard-hit single through the left side.

Baylor then took advantage of a pair of Black & Gold defensive miscues in the last of the third to pull within a run at 3-2. The Knights struck right back, however, with a run in the top of the fourth to make it 4-2. Neri started things off with a double and Williamson quickly singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Calise then followed with his second RBI of the game by dropping down a picture-perfect safety squeeze bunt to first to plate Neri.

Vespi pitched well for the Knights from there, as he kept the Bears off the scoreboard over the next couple of innings to keep it a 4-2 game.

The Black and Gold then added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh to extend their lead to 6-2. Andrew Brait led off the inning with a walk and Prevesk followed by driving him home with his second extra-base hit of the ballgame with a double off the left field wall to make it 5-2. With runners on the corners following a single from Zyska, Boedicker plated Prevesk with a sacrifice fly to right to cap the scoring in the frame.

Spencer Bauer then came on in relief for the Knights and quickly retired the side in order in the seventh. The Bears made things interesting in the eighth thanks to a two-run homer from Wesley Jordan to pull within two at 6-4. But on came Sosnowski from the UCF bullpen and he managed to strand a pair of base runners via an inning-ending strikeout to send it to the ninth. Sosnowski then retired the Bears in order in the last of the ninth to preserve the win and earn the save.

The senior Vespi went 6.0 innings and allowed just two unearned runs on four hits to move to 4-3 on the year. He also matched a season-high with seven strikeouts in the contest and only issued one free pass. The sophomore Sosnowski tossed the final inning and a third of scoreless relief with two punchouts to earn his fourth save of the season.

Calise led the Knights offensively by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Zyska went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Prevesk 2-for-5 with a run batted in, a double and a triple. Cedarburg also had a two-hit game by going 2-for-5. Zach Mazoch and Enzo Apodaca led the Bears by posting two-hits apiece, while Jordan went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Following Friday’s nightcap, the series and regular season will conclude for both teams on Saturday with the finale at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT. UCF will open its inaugural run at the 2024 Big 12 Baseball Championship on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The tournament will run Tuesday through Saturday, May 21-25.