The USF Bulls defeated the UCF Knights in both games of their doubleheader Saturday at John Euilano Park. With the wins, USF secures its first series win over UCF since 2023.
“After that first game with all the things that happened in that first game, for us to have a chance in game two, you gotta have somebody go out there and pitch the way Matt Sauser did,” UCF coach Rich Wallace said.
USF first baseman Nathan Earley led the games with four combined hits and three RBI’s, while UCF only scored three runs in both games.
Game 1: USF 9, UCF 2
The Bulls came out swinging. After a Jake Kulikowski single, first baseman Nathan Earley sent a ball into deep right field for a home run in the top of the first. It was only USF’s fourth home run through 11 games.
UCF answered the next inning, as Bulls starting pitcher Edwin Alicea walked two Knights. Then, USF third baseman Jack Lutz committed an error that scored a run and put two runners in scoring position. Knights second baseman Braden Calise hit a full-count RBI single, tying the game at 2-2 after two innings.
From that point on, the Bulls outscored the Knights 7-0 over the next seven innings. Catcher Lance Trippel had two hits and three RBI’s while Earley collected another RBI. USF put up three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to put UCF away.
“I think, we didn’t have great at best in the first one, it kind of trickled over,” Wallace said. “We got to get some guys going.”
Alicea went six innings for the Bulls, pitching 100 pitches with no earned runs. Freshman relief pitcher Will Allen recorded 2.2 scoreless innings, keeping his season ERA at 0.00.
Game 2: USF 2, UCF 1
In contrast to their first game of the day, the second game was a pitcher’s duel. Both starting pitchers, UCF’s Matt Sauser and USF’s Michael Senay, went a full seven innings with five strikeouts.
“[I kept] the pace up, defense [played] behind me, making it easy to just get in and out of dugout,” Sauser said.
Once both starters were subbed out, their relievers could not maintain their dominance. Kris Sosnowski’s first appearance of the season did not go his way, as he allowed two hits through three batters.
“I thought Kris Sosnowski for his first outing of year, the stuff was good,” Wallace said. “A little bit of the command, the breaking ball had some chances to put a guy away, breaking ball looked good, but it wasn’t located well, but I think it was a step in the right direction for him.”
With two runners on and one out, Western Kentucky transfer Evan Jones struck out the next two batters, stranding the two runners Sosnowski allowed to reach.
To start the bottom of the eighth, Bulls relief pitcher Ethan Sutton muffed a throw, allowing for a runner to reach base. DeAmez Ross would bunt, but the runner was put out at second base.
On a potential double play opportunity, USF shortstop Jevin Relaford threw the ball past first base, allowing Stephen Chuka to get to second base. Knights left fielder John Smith III, who started game one on the bench, came through for UCF with a single for the game’s first run.
Only needing three outs, Wallace decided to sub out Smith III for JD Rodgers in left. Earley singled off Jones to start the inning, and Eli Thomas hit a fly ball to left field. Rodgers slipped on the turf, allowing the tying run to score and Thomas to reach third.
https://twitter.com/USFBaseball/status/2027903099247972719?s=20
With no outs in the inning and a runner 90 feet from home plate, Trippel hit a ball to third base, which Javier Crespo fielded and tagged Thomas out. Trippel was then caught stealing second and Jones struck out Jacob Green looking on a full count to end the inning.
UCF had a 1-2-3 inning to send the game into extra innings. Relaford redeemed himself for the Bulls, as he hit a leadoff double to start the 10th. He advanced to third on a bunt and Lutz hit a single to give USF its first lead of the game.
https://twitter.com/USFBaseball/status/2027909857341219142?s=20
Needing to answer the run with the top of the order up, the Knights had their second-straight 1-2-3 inning to lose the game.
With the losses, the Knights extended their losing streak to four and dropped to below .500 for the first time this season. Meanwhile, USF improved to 9-2 on the year.
“[We have] really good [hitters] one through nine,” Sauser said. “Guys are waiting to get their turn. Just really good hitters.”
Next up
The Knights and Bulls finish their series on Sunday. USF has never swept a series against UCF at John Euliano Park in the history of their rivalry.
“This has a chance to be a good offensive club,” Wallace said. “There’s pieces. We just gotta do more than all this. Baseball is like that. I’m sick to my stomach after those two just like they are. You got a choice. You can go home tonight and feel sorry for yourself, but nobody does, except maybe the parents, and they got a chance to handle like a man and come ready to hit tomorrow.”
First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on March 1.