ORLANDO – Matt Sauser and Evan Jones combined for a four-hit shutout en route to leading UCF to a 4-0 victory over Murray State on Saturday night at John Euliano Park.
With the win, the Knights (8-5) have now won four straight and have secured the series over the 2025 College World Series Racers (10-5). The Black and Gold will go for the series sweep on Sunday at noon.
“I thought that Matt was the guy that made the biggest jump for us from last year to this year, and again from the fall to the spring. The life of the fastball and the consistency has really taken a step up. He’s also developed the use of the splitfinger and the slider as well,” head UCF coach Rich Wallace said. “He pounded the strike zone and really attacked the hitters all night. If I’m an infielder, I’m ecstatic to play behind that guy.
“For the second night in a row, we’ve had someone come out of the bullpen and give absolute energy to the whole team. And Evan did that for over three innings for us tonight. He used the fastball when they were getting kind of locked in a bit on his slider and then would finish hitters off with his slider. He was in control of what was happening all outing long.”
Andrew Williamson got the Knights on the scoreboard in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Williamson dropped down a bunt single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throw that got away from Murray State’s catcher.
Entering the game with 13 scoreless innings of work on the season, Sauser continued right where he left off last weekend by retiring the first 11 batters he faced. He didn’t allow a baserunner until two outs in the fourth inning when MSU’s Kris Hokenson worked a two-out walk. He also didn’t surrender his first hit of the contest until the fifth inning when Anthony Perritano reached on an infield single.
After allowing consecutive singles with two outs in the sixth and UCF still holding to a 1-0 advantage, the Knights then went to the bullpen and the junior right-hander Jones entered. Jones promptly struck out the first man he faced to strand a pair of baserunners and preserve the lead for the Black and Gold.
UCF then added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth to make it 2-0. Javier Crespo led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and he later moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Landon Moran. Following a one-out walk by Jordan Lodise, Austin Jacobs then singled to third base, but the throw got away at first which allowed Crespo to race home and just beat the throw to the plate to double the score.
After Jones retired the Racers in order in the top of the seventh, Zak Skinner belted out a two-run home run to left field to extend UCF’s lead to 4-0. The round tripper marked Skinner’s second of the season and traveled 383 feet and exited the ballpark at 111 MPH off the bat.
Skinner with a 2-run shot💥 pic.twitter.com/vdsCW1v28M
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 8, 2026
Jones then again mowed down Murray State in order in the eighth and pitched around a one-out single in the ninth to seal the victory.
Jones strikes out his 5th batter to record the save👏 pic.twitter.com/EajlNRjA7j
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 8, 2026
Sauser earned the win on the mound after tossing 5.2 scoreless innings of work. The junior right-hander allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out five and walking just one to move to 1-0 on the season. Jones then recorded his first save in a Black and Gold uniform after tying a career-long with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. The junior reliever gave up just one hit and retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced. He also tied a season-high with five punchouts.
Another strong start from Sauser 🤩
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 8, 2026
5.2 IP
0 R
3 H
5 K pic.twitter.com/U41dcrjvZx
Skinner led the offense by going 1-for-2 with the two-run home run and a walk while Williamson finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Hokenson paced Murray State by going 2-for-3 with a walk.
The contest marked UCF’s sixth game of a current 12-game homestand.
On Deck
The Knights go for the series sweep on Sunday at noon. Following Sunday’s series finale against the Racers, the Black and Gold will continue the homestand by welcoming No. 21 Miami to John Euliano Park on Wednesday at 6 p.m. UCF will then open Big 12 Conference play next weekend with a three-game home series against Oklahoma State.