CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
CLEARWATER, Florida – No. 2 UCF used a 5-run second inning to break out the game and defeated No. 6 Wichita State, 12-4, in an elimination game at the 2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Wednesday night at BayCare Ballpark.
 
With the win, UCF (33-24) will take on the loser of Thursday’s game between Memphis and Houston on Friday, May 27 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
 
The Knights were efficient at the plate, scoring 12 runs on 12 hits, while also taking advantage of three Shocker errors.
 
After both teams scored in the first inning, the Knights scored five in the second, including RBI singles by Gephry Pena, Noah Orlando and Tom Josten. UCF added three in the fifth to take a 10-3 lead on an RBI single by Michael Brooks and a 2-run double by Trent Taylor.
 
Rudy Gomez earned the win for UCF, throwing 4.2 innings of relief and only giving up one run while striking out six Shockers. Cameron Bye (5-2) took the loss, allowing six runs in 1.2 innings.
 
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
Game 6: UCF 12, Wichita State 4
 
Thursday, May 26
Game 7: Cincinnati vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Memphis vs. Houston | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
 
Friday, May 27
Game 9: Tulane vs. Loser of Game 7 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. UCF | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 28
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 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