STATISTICS
Friday, April 26 Results:
Highlights:
The home teams came out on top in Friday’s series openers, as UCF, Cincinnati, No. 11 ECU and USF each picked up American wins. ECU remains atop The American’s standings with a 12-1 conference record, while Cincinnati improved to 8-4 against conference foes to reclaim the league’s third-place spot. American play resumes Saturday with the action starting at 4 p.m. ET.
UCF 12, Memphis 11
UCF outlasted Memphis 12-11 to start the weekend on a high note. The Tigers cut the deficit to one run twice, clawing back from a nine-run gap in the ninth. Dallas Beaver notched a career night with a pair of homers and five RBIs to lead the Black and Gold. UCF jumped out to a 10-1 lead, tacking on seven runs in the third inning. Memphis rallied back, scoring the next eight runs through the sixth inning to make it a 10-9 ballgame. Beaver’s second home run of the night in the seventh inning lifted the Knights to a three-run advantage (12-9) before Memphis scored on a walk and wild pitch in the ninth to close in on one run. Jeffrey Hakansan entered the mound in the ninth and made the final two outs of the game to secure the win for the Knights, earning his sixth save of the season. UCF starter Grant Schuermann shook off an early home run from Hunter Goodman to strike out seven over five innings of work and collect the win.
Jay Lyons added three hits and an RBI for UCF. Four Tigers collected multiple hits on the night. Goodman and Alec Trela also homered—their ninth and third home runs of the season, respectively. The series between the Knights and Tigers continues Saturday with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati 5, Wichita State 1
Cincinnati scored five runs through the first four innings, as the Bearcats defeated Wichita State 5-1 in Game 1 of a three-game series. Cincinnati started David Orndorff had another solid outing. He went 7.0 innings with one run, five hits, one walk and five strikeouts. The Bearcats’ defense continued to shine, turning a trio of double plays on the night. Wyatt Stapp blasted his second home run of the season and finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Joey Wiemer, Jace Mercer and Jeremy Johnson all also went 2-for-4 while Mitch Holding finished 2-for-3. Hunter Gibson went 2-for-4 with the sole RBI of the night for the Shockers. Wichita State starter Liam Eddy went seven innings deep, but gave up five runs and took the loss. The two teams continue the series with a 4 p.m. ET game Saturday.
No. 11 ECU 14, Tulane 0
No. 11 ECU blanked Tulane 14-0 in the first game of the showdown between the top two teams in The American. The Green Wave, which has proven to be the top offensive team in the conference this year, was held to two hits through the first five innings behind another strong start from ECU southpaw Jake Agnos. The junior lefthander fanned nine through 5.0 scoreless innings of work, issuing five walks. He reached 100 strikeouts this season to lead The American.
Nick Barber, Spencer Brickhouse, Seth Caddell and Bryant Packard each hit home runs for the Pirates. ECU also extended its win streak to seven games and its home streak to 13-straight victories. The Pirates tallied six runs in the third inning, while tacking on a pair of runs in the first, fourth, seventh and eighth frames. ECU banged out 13 hits, improving to 20-0 on the year when reaching double-digit base knocks. Ten players registered at least one hit with the trio of Barber, Packard and Jake Washer each collecting a pair. ECU also had 10 hitters drive in at least one run with Washer leading the way with three.
Tulane tallied eight hits in the contest getting a pair from Jonathon Artigues, who was 2-for-4. The Green Wave left 15 runners on base and struck out 13 times. The two clubs will return to the diamond on Saturday for Game 2 of the weekend series with a 4 p.m. ET first pitch.
USF 5, Houston 3
USF kept its momentum riding with a 5-3 win over Houston to open the weekend series Friday, clinching its fifth-straight win. The Bulls faced a three-run deficit heading into the bottom of the fifth, before an Alex Bello RBI to score Austin Bodrato got USF on the board. The Bulls then scored three in the sixth, including two on a throwing error, to take the lead before Bello added an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI single. He matched a career best with two hits, hitting a double and driving in two runs. Bodrato scored three runs, going 2-for-3. USF righty Baron Stuart was strong again, going 7.0 innings for his third win of the year. Junior righty Nelson Alvarez was lights out in relief, striking out three over two clean frames to earn his sixth save of the year.
Houston took a 3-0 lead through the first four innings, as Kobe Hyland drove in a pair with an RBI double in the second and Derrick Cherry blasted a solo home run in the fourth. Lael Lockhart Jr. struck out eight through the first 5.1 innings for Houston, scattering three runs on five hits and two walks. Hyland and Cherry ended the night with two hits each. The Bulls and Cougars continue the series Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Tampa.
Sam Houston State 8, UConn 5
A seven-run sixth inning for Sam Houston State doomed UConn Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium. The Huskies lost 8-5 to fall to 25-17 on the season. UConn trailed 1-0 heading into the top of the sixth inning, while being no-hit by junior righthander Hayden Wesneski. With runners at the corners and two outs, sophomore Christian Fedko ripped a two-run double into left field to give UConn a 2-1 lead. Kyler Fedko unloaded on a three-run homer to push the lead to 5-1 in the sixth. The Huskies then gave up a season-high seven runs in the home half of the frame. UConn returns to action on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to try and even up the series against the Bearkats.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 27
Wichita State at Cincinnati* - 4 p.m.
UConn at Sam Houston State - 4 p.m.
Tulane at ECU* - 4 p.m.
Memphis at UCF* - 6 p.m.
Houston at USF* - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 28
Wichita State at Cincinnati* - Noon
UConn at Sam Houston State - Noon
Tulane at ECU* - 1 p.m.
Houston at USF* - 1 p.m.
Memphis at UCF* - 1 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game