The No. 22 Knights pulled out another win on the road in the South Alabama Tournament, this time against the No. 11 Maryland Terrapins, closing the game 7-6 at Stanky Field.
UCF ended Maryland’s then spotless schedule after going unanswered with 5 runs in 4 innings. The Knights chalked one up on the board in the bottom of the first after senior shortstop Dylan Moore ran in an RBI, taking a 1-0 lead. Moore would hit a double down the third base line before taking to third on a ground out, running in on Erik Barber’s sacrifice to left field. The 3rd and 4th innings would see UCF put up two runs a piece, including catcher Logan Heiser’s home run to left center field. The Terrapins worked up a rhythm at the top of the sixth to give them two runs, only for 2 more to be matched by the Knights in the 7th inning.
Maryland wouldn’t go quietly, edging in another 4 runs in the final two innings in an attempt to even up the score. At the top of the ninth, the Terps had their last chance for a lead taken away by a UCF shortstop on a 3-2 grounder.
Senior shortstop Dylan Moore brought in 3 runs for his team, with center fielder Derrick Salberg right behind Moore at 2 runs. On defense, UCF’s right-handed-pitcher Cre Frinfrock retired the first 8 batters before allowing a single to break through.
UCF’s powerful offense has given them 9 or more runs in the previous 4 games, making tonight’s game against the Terps (4-1) well within their grasp. The Knights (6-0) have now beaten two top-20 opponents in a row with the win against Maryland.
UCF’s final game in the South Alabama Tournament will be against South Alabama on Sunday at 3 p.m. South Alabama (4-1) lost their last game, falling 0-8 against Maryland on Friday.
