Baseball to Cap Homestand Tuesday vs. ColumbiaBaseball to Cap Homestand Tuesday vs. Columbia

Baseball to Cap Homestand Tuesday vs. Columbia

by James Warnick

ORLANDO – Fresh off a Big 12 series sweep over Oklahoma State in the opening conference series, the UCF baseball team will close a 12-game homestand on Tuesday against Columbia.

The midweek contest will begin at 6 p.m. at John Euliano Park. The ballgame will air live on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available by visiting UCF.StatBroadcast.com.

The Knights will enter the ballgame with a 12-6 overall record and atop the Big 12 standings with a 3-0 conference clip. The three-game sweep over Oklahoma State marked the Black and Gold’s first conference series sweep since joining the Big 12 Conference prior to the 2024 season. Following the sweep, UCF has now won eight of its last nine contests.

The Knights defeated the Cowboys by scores of 12-11, 6-1 and 6-5 following a walk-off win to secure the sweep on Sunday.  UCF found itself trailing 6-0 early in the series opener on Friday but managed to score four runs in the fourth inning and seven more in the fifth to take an 11-6 lead. OK State later pulled to within a run in the seventh, but the Black and Gold added what proved to be the winning run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly from Landon Moran. The Pokes scored a run in the top of the ninth, but Kris Sosnowski entered and locked up the wild opening Big 12 Conference game by recording his first save of the season.

Pitching was key for UCF in game two on Saturday, as Matt Sauser went 6.1 innings and surrendered just one run on two hits for another dominant outing on the season. After giving up his first run of the season on two hits in the first inning, Sauser settled down and had a stretch in which he sat down 11 straight Cowboys. Left-hander Matthew Heyl and righty Michael Gillen followed with 2.2 combined innings of scoreless and hitless relief down the stretch over OK State’s prolific offense to seal the victory.

James Hankerson Jr. got the Black and Gold offense going in the fifth inning of game three with a two-run home run to deadlock the score at 2-2. John Smith III followed with a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth and Zak Skinner tacked on a two-out insurance run in the last of the eighth to make it 5-3.

The Cowboys rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to tie things up and looked for more by having the bases loaded and only one out. But redshirt freshman Anthony Lariz entered on the mound and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to keep the game tied. The Knights then didn’t waste any time rallying in the last of the ninth as Moran reached with a sharp leadoff single into right field. DeAmez Ross then dropped down a sac bunt to move him into scoring position and Hankerson Jr. drove him home with a walk-off RBI single through the right side of the infield on the first pitch of the at-bat to propel UCF to its third walk-off win in as many weeks.

The senior first baseman Moran led the Black and Gold in the series by hitting .455 with a double, four runs scored, and three runs driven in. Smith III was next with a .429 average, a pair of doubles, four runs scored and two RBIs, while Skinner batted .385 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Sauser led the way from the mound by allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four over 6.1 innings to move to 2-0 on the year. The left-hander Heyl had a strong series from the bullpen by tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief while Lariz also tossed 2.1 innings of shutout relief and earned the win on Sunday.

Columbia will mark UCF’s fourth of seven consecutive opponents that made the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

Season Leaders

Outfielder John Smith III fronts offense on the season with a .409 batting average. He has also a five-game hitting streak and has reached base in 11 straight games. Second baseman Austin Jacobs is next with a .356 clip, while catcher Zak Skinner is hitting .350 with two homers and a team-best 17 RBIs. He also leads the way with a 10-game hitting streak and a 12-game reached base safely streak. Outfielder Andrew Williamson follows with a .314 average and team-leading tallies of 18 runs scored, five doubles, three triples and four home runs. The right-hander Matt Sauser leads the starting rotation with a stellar 2-0 record, 0.36 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 25.0 innings. Evan Jones is one of the top relievers with a 1-1 record, 3.52 ERA, one save and a team-best 22 strikeouts over 15.1 innings.

About Columbia

The Lions will come to Orlando with a 2-10 record on the season and will begin Ivy League play later in the week against Harvard. Columbia is 2-4 on the season against fellow Big 12 Conference foes, as they’ve previously taken one of three at both Kansas State and West Virginia. The Lions most recently got swept at South Florida over the weekend. Columbia won a share of the Ivy League regular season title in 2025 and went on to win the Ivy League Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament a season ago as it took part in the Hattiesburg Regional.

The Lions were picked to win the Ivy League again this season in the conference’s preseason poll.

Cole Fellows leads Columbia on the season with a .319 batting average, nine runs scord and six doubles. Jimmy Chadwell is next with a .316 clip, while Own Estabrook leads in the power numbers with three home runs and a team-best 10 RBIs. Payton Soske holds a team-best 1.69 ERA with a save from the bullpen, while Alex Sotiropoulos fronts the starting rotation with a 1-1 record, 5.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 18.0 innings of work.

Columbia is coached by head coach Brett Boretti. Boretti is in his 21st year at Columbia.

All-Time Series vs. Columbia

Tuesday’s midweek contest will mark the 20th all-time meeting between the Knights and Lions. UCF will enter play holding to a 16-3 all-time advantage and having won five straight and 12 of the last 13 contests over the Lions. The two last met up on March of 2015, and UCF managed to sweep a three-game series at John Euliano Park.

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

The starting pitchers for both teams are currently listed as to be announced.

Walk-Off Dubs

UCF has recorded a trio of Sunday walk-off victories in as many weeks. The Knights started a current stretch in where they have won eight of their last nine ballgames with a 2-1 walk-off win over in-state foe South Florida in the series finale on March 1. With the game all deadlocked at 2-1 heading into the last of the ninth, UCF quickly loaded the bases with nobody out. Zak Skinner then worked a full count with the bases loaded and came through with a sharp single through the right side of the infield to give the Knights the walk-off 2-1 victory.

Trailing 9-4 entering the bottom of the ninth against Murray State on Sunday March 8, the Knights put together a last-inning rally for the ages by scoring six runs to record their second walk-off win of the streak. UCF again quickly loaded the bases with nobody out. Javier Crespo started the scoring with an RBI single, and John Smith III came in to score on a wild pitch. James Hankerson Jr. then made it a 9-8 score with a two-run pinch hit single and Jordan Lodise evened the score with a safety squeeze. After a sac bunt moved the winning run to third base with only one out, Cayden Gaskin delivered a walk-off pinch-hit RBI single to left center to complete the epic comeback.

UCF kept the Sunday walk-off streak alive with by pulling out a 6-5 walk-off win over Oklahoma State on Sunday, March 15 to record its first Big 12 series sweep since joining the conference prior to the 2024 season. After OK State tied things up in the top of the ninth, the Black and Gold offense didn’t waste any time rallying as Landon Moran quickly reached with a sharp leadoff single into right field. DeAmez Ross then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position and James Hankerson Jr. plated Moran with a walk-off RBI single through the right side of the infield on the first pitch of the at-bat.

12-Game Homestand Continues

The Knights are in the final game of 12-game homestand. Over the homestand, UCF will face six different opponents. The home stretch will span nearly three weeks, and the Black and Gold will play the 12 games over a 19-day span. UCF will face in-state foes South Florida, FGCU and Miami during the homestand as well as 2025 College World Series participant Murray State, Columbia and open Big 12 play against Oklahoma State. UCF is currently 8-3 during the homestand.

Braden Smith Named to National Pitcher of the Year Watch List

UCF junior right-handed pitcher Braden Smith has been named to the National Pitcher of the Year Award Watch List as announced by the College Sports Foundation. Smith was named to the watch list after holding a 2-1 record and 17 strikeouts while walking just three batters over 23.1 innings. He also holds a 1.46 WHIP as UCF’s Friday night starter.

Smith is one of 13 pitchers from the Big 12 to make the cut and one of 141 pitchers in all.

Sauser Named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week

Matt Sauser earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time of his career on Feb. 23 after tossing 6.0 dominant innings at No. 20 Miami on Feb. 17. The right-hander was nearly perfect in the outing, as he did not allow a hit over six innings of action. The Bloomington, Illinois native issued just one walk and struck out six over the six hitless and scoreless frames.

In all, Sauser retired the Hurricanes in order in five of his six innings of work. He also allowed just one baserunner to reach on the basepaths.

Williamson Tabbed Preseason All-Big 12

A season removed from earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors, junior outfielder Andrew Williamson has been named to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Baseball Team. He enters the season off a stellar sophomore campaign in which he slashed .352/.662/.448 for the Black and Gold. The native of St. Petersburg, Florida led the Knights in nearly every offensive category a season ago in which he batted .352 with team-leading tallies of 13 home runs, 19 doubles, four triples, 58 runs scored and 53 runs batted in. Williamson also led the way in walks (34), on-base percentage (.448), slugging (.662), and finished second in stolen bases by going a perfect 13-for-13.

Williamson led the Knights with a 31‑game reached‑base streak, along with 26 multi‑hit games and 16 multi‑RBI performances in 2025. He also started all 55 games in right field a season ago.

Dorsey and Jones Named to NCBWA Stopper of Year Preseason Watch List

Right-handed pitchers Chandler Dorsey and Evan Jones have been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. Both are new to the Knights this season, as Dorsey is a senior transfer from LSU while Jones is a redshirt junior from Western Kentucky.

A season ago in Baton Rouge, Dorsey posted an ERA just over five over 5.0 innings of work. He struck out four and tossed scoreless outings in three of his five appearances to help the Tigers claim the 2025 National Championship. During his sophomore campaign at South Florida, he had a stellar season in which he went 2-1 with eight saves and a 3.60 ERA. Over 30.0 innings of work that season, the 6-4 right-hander struck out 41 batters and limited opposing hitters to a .180 average.

During the 2025 season at WKU, Jones compiled a 1-1 record with four saves and a 3.18 ERA. He also limited opposing hitters to a .227 average in 11.1 innings of work. Over 14 appearances, he tossed 10 scoreless outings which included a stretch that spanned over seven consecutive games.

Williamson Named to Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

In an award given to the top amateur baseball player in the nation, UCF junior outfielder Andrew Williamson was named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. Jimenez was one of 55 players from both the college and high school ranks and five from the Big 12 Conference to make the cut. Williamson slashed .352/.662/.448 in 2025 with 13 HRs, 19 2Bs, 58 runs and 53 RBIs.

Trio of Knights Named to D1Baseball’s Preseason Player List

A trio of Knights were named to D1Baseball’s Preseason Player Lists prior to the season in outfielders Andrew Williamson and DeAmez Ross, and catcher Zak Skinner. The junior OF Williamson led the group by checking in at No. 14 on D1Baseball’s Top 150 Outfielders. The senior transfer Skinner was next by being ranked No. 47 on the Top 50 Catchers List, while the senior Ross was right behind him by coming in at No. 53 on the Outfielders List.

On Deck for UCF

Following Tuesday’s contest against Columbia, the Knights will hit the road to face TCU for a three-game Big 12 series this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas.