Baseball Defeats North Florida in Midweek Action, 9-3Baseball Defeats North Florida in Midweek Action, 9-3

Baseball Defeats North Florida in Midweek Action, 9-3

by Nick Porcelli
Box Score

ORLANDO – The UCF baseball team got back into the win column on Tuesday night, defeating Sunshine State foe North Florida by a score of 9-3.

“We got some runners in scoring position tonight,” head coach Rich Wallace said. “And then we were able to get the run game involved to create a couple runs there late. There were some big swings and some big moments, and the guys delivered.”

The Black and Gold (24-20) got on the board early thanks to a two-run double from Andrew Sundean in the bottom of the first. Sundean extended the lead two innings later with an RBI single, before Edian Espinal drove in two more runs for the Knights with a two-run double of his own. Dylan King then made the score 7-0 with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth for the team’s third two-run double of the game.

UNF (22-23) responded with a trio of runs over the middle innings to make it a 7-3 game, but Andrew Williamson put the knights back on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and Antonio Jimenez helped the Black and Gold put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eight by hitting a sacrifice fly that allowed DeAmez Ross to reach home safely.

In total, UCF’s offense combined for 11 hits. Eight batters had at least one hit and three—King, Sundean and Ross—had two. Sundean led the way, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs, while King and Espinal had two RBIs. Ross also had himself a night, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored.

Getting the start for the Knights on the mound was Grant Seigel, who was coming off a game in which he tied a career-long with 7.0 innings and a season-high in strikeouts with seven. He continued his streak of solid pitching outings by going 4.1 innings and striking out five while only giving up seven hits and two earned runs.

Wiley Hartley, who came in in the middle of the top of the fifth, got the win (5-1). Hartley pitched for 1.1 innings and allowed only two hits and one unearned run, while also striking out two of the six batters he faced.

Dom Stagliano would finish off the game for UCF. He pitched 3.1 innings and allowed just three hits. He surrendered no runs and struck out five batters, earning the save in the process.

“I think the biggest thing was just attacking the zone, you make them beat themselves,” Stagliano said. “I think obviously our defense played a great game behind me. So, the biggest thing was making them put the ball in play and force contact.”

The contest marked the Black and Gold’s final game of the season against an in-state opponent. With the win, UCF upped its record against Sunshine State opponents to 9-4.

The Knights will return to action on Friday, in which they will begin a seven-game road trip. UCF will first take on Oklahoma State in a three-game series. The Black and Gold will then travel to Springfield, Missouri for a midweek game at Missouri State next Tuesday, before taking on Texas Tech in Lubbock in a three-game series starting on May 9.