CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
CLEARWATER, Florida – Second-seeded UCF batted around in the first inning and never looked back, going on to defeat No. 7 Memphis, 15-2, in seven innings in an elimination game at the 2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Friday evening at BayCare Ballpark.
 
With the win, UCF (34-24) advances to play Houston on Saturday, May 28 at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. The Knights would have to defeat the Cougars twice on Saturday to move on to the Championship on Sunday, May 29. The Tigers finish the season with a record of 27-28.
 
Noah Orlando hit a 3-run home run and Ben McCabe followed with a 2-run shot to deep center to highlight the UCF first inning. UCF would bat around again in the fifth to add five more runs.
 
Five Knights scored at least twice, including Orlando and McCabe, who both scored three times and drove in four runs each.
 
David Litchfield (4-2) earned the win for UCF with four innings of scoreless relief. JT Durham (0-4) took the loss for Memphis, allowing five earned runs in the first.
 
2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship
 
Schedule
Tuesday, May 24
Game 1: No. 4 Cincinnati 8, No. 5 Tulane 1
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 7, No. 8 South Florida 1
Game 3: No. 7 Memphis 7, No. 2 UCF 6
Game 4: No. 3 Houston 10, No. 6 Wichita State 7
 
Wednesday, May 25
Game 5: Tulane 9, South Florida 6 (South Florida eliminated)
Game 6: UCF 12, Wichita State 4 (Wichita State eliminated)
 
Thursday, May 26
Game 7: East Carolina 15, Cincinnati 5 (7 innings)
Game 8: Houston 8, Memphis 7
 
Friday, May 27
Game 9: Tulane 13, Cincinnati 5 (Cincinnati eliminated)
Game 10: UCF 15, Memphis 2 (7 innings – Memphis eliminated)
 
Saturday, May 28
Game 11: Tulane vs. East Carolina | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Houston vs. UCF | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | 47 minutes after Game 12 | ESPN+
Game 14 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | 47 minutes after Game 13 | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 29
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS