The Knights (20-17) were unable to produce a win in their first game in front of the home crowd since March 30, losing to a red-hot Florida Atlantic (25-2) squad 10-2.
The pitching staff was systematically depleted in the game as UCF used seven pitchers to limp through the loss.
Coming off a clutch performance in Saturday’s extra inning action in Houston, Brian Adkins only managed to record one out in the first before being replaced by Spencer Davis. Adkins gave up three earned runs in the first to put UCF in an early hole.
Davis was lights out for his 2.2 innings on the mound, and the Knights wouldn’t yeild another run until the fifth inning, which began a three frame scoring run that would end with the Owls ahead going into the bottom of the seventh 10-2.
Florida Atlantic put up three runs in the fifth and sixth, and tacked on their final run in the seventh inning with an RBI groundout.
UCF managed to put runs up in the third and fourth innings, but were shutdown on the offensive side of the ball for the most part.
Second baseman Brett Gordon had an excellent day with the bat, however, and improved his batting average on the year to .333 by collecting three hits and an RBI in four at bats. His RBI came on his first home run of the year, a solo shot hammered to left field that put the Knights on the board in the third inning.
The loss is a setback for the UCF, who are fast approaching a .500 record. The real competition ramps back up on Friday night, when the Knights host Conference USA rival Marshall at Jay Bergman Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
