UCF BASEBALL PULLS OUT ANOTHER SUNDAY WALK-OFF WIN TO SWEEP ARIZONA
Camden Wicker tossed 7.0 dominant innings, and UCF won it in extras thanks on a pinch-hit walk-off RBI single from Oviedo’s Stephen Chucka in the 13th inning to propel the Knights to a 3-2 victory to sweep the defending Big 12 tournament champion Arizona Wildcats on Sunday at John Euliano Park.
After Arizona took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the eighth inning, the Black and Gold tied things up in the bottom of the frame on a two-out RBI single from Cayden Gaskin. Following five scoreless innings from the UCF bullpen, the Knights then rallied in the 13th as Gaskin doubled and John Smith III was intentionally walked with two away. The Knights then called upon Chucka and after a lengthy at-bat, the a freshman from nearby Hagerty High School pulled a sharp single through the ride side of the infield and Gaskin came around to score the winning run for UCF’s fourth Sunday walk-off win over the past five weeks.
The Knights improved to 18-8 overall with the sweep and remain in sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings with an 8-1 league clip. The sweep marked UCF’s second in Big 12 play and fourth of the season. The 8-1 conference record marks the Black and Gold’s best start to conference play since 2014 when it too began the conference season at 8-1. The Wildcats, who made it to Omaha last season, dropped to 9-18 and 2-7 in league play with the setback.
Gaskin led the way offensively by going 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Smith III was next by going 1-for-5 with a solo home run while Chucka finished 1-for-1 with the game-winning RBI.
Despite the strong start, Wicker took a no decision after tying a career-high with 7.0 innings and allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out five and not walking a batter. Evan Jones then tossed a career-long 4.0 scoreless innings and Max Murray earned the win in relief to move to 2-1 on the year after tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball.
On Saturday, UCF defeated the Wildcats in run-rule fashion to claim its third straight conference series with a 13-3 victory on a wet and windy night at John Euliano Park.
In his first collegiate start and filling in for Matt Sauser, who was scratched from his start earlier in the day, sophomore right-hander Mateo Gray went a career-long 6.0 innings and allowed just three hits and two runs while striking out two and walking one. He faced the minimum in three of his six innings on the day en route to a career outing for the Knights.
Offensively, UCF tallied 17 hits to mark the team’s seventh conference game with double-digit hits thus far, signaling a key to victory, winning all of those games.
Every Knight who stepped up to the plate recorded a hit, with five players recording two or more hits and three members posting three hits.
Austin Jacobs tallied three RBI and three runs scored on 3-for-3 hitting, while Gaskin also recorded three RBI, going 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. DeAmez Ross logged three singles on 3-for-5 hitting and scored three runs.
Gray earned the victory to move to 3-0 on the season. Kevin Schoneboom tossed 1.2 innings of solid relief for the Black and Gold and Kris Sosnowski earned his second save after stranding a pair of runners in the top of the eighth inning.
Behind a two-home run night from John Smith III and a season-high four homers in all, the UCF baseball team posted an 11-6 victory in the series opener on Friday.
Smith III hit out a two-run shot in the fourth inning and later belted out a three-run round tripper in the eighth inning to put the game away. The senior left fielder finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a season-high five runs batted in. The multiple home run night marked Smith III’s first in a UCF uniform. Javier Crespo also hit a two-run home run in the second inning and Andrew Williamson added his team-leading sixth homer of the season in the seventh.
UCF starter Braden Smith earned the victory to move to 3-1 on the year. The junior right-hander allowed just three runs on four hits while striking out two over five-plus innings of work. After Chris Sosnowski pitched well for 1.2 innings, Jones then earned his second save of the year after giving up just two runs on one hit over the final 2.1 innings.
With the sweep, the Knights have now won nine of their last 11 games and 14 of their last 17.
Arizona marked UCF’s seventh consecutive opponent that played in the NCAA Tournament a season ago and their third and final that made the College World Series last season. With the sweep, the Black and Gold swept both 2025 Men’s College World Series participants Arizona and Murray State.
On Deck:
UCF will now hit the road for a four-game road trip. The Black and Gold will first head to Happy Valley to face Big Ten foe Penn State tonight (Wednesday) at 5:30 p.m. on the Radio at 810 AM and the BIG10+ network, before heading to Morgantown for a key Big 12 series at second place and 15th-ranked West Virginia on Friday (6:30 p.m., on 810 AM and ESPN+), Saturday (4 p.m., 96.9 FM The Team and ESPN+) and Sunday (noon, 96.9 FM The Team and ESPN+). The Knights will return to John Eulino Park next Tuesday to host Stetson at 6 p.m., also on 96.9 FM The Team and ESPN+.
LMSA
Wednesday night Rum Racing on Lake Monroe with the Lake Monroe Sailing Association continues tonight (Wednesday). Anyone with a Portsmouth rated boat is welcome to attend. Cocktails, dinner and scores at The Breezeway afterwards.
If you are looking to crew, be down at the ramp by 5:30 p.m. If you are sailing, the starting window will be between 6 p.m.-and-6:05 p.m.
The LMSA has had a couple of big results this past week and a recap of those will appear in next week’s Sanford Herald.
Also, due to low water levels on Lake Monroe the City of Sanford has closed the downtown boat ramps, forcing several special events to be postponed until further notice. The weekly Rum Race will continue, however. Check out the calendar for updates.
For more information, visit _ www.flalmsa.org _ or call (321) 578-8364.
ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
Coming up at Orlando Speed World Dragway:
* Today: Wheels Up Wednesday _ “All Welcome Test and Tune and Grudge Racing” with gates opening at 6 p.m. and racing from 6 p.m.-to-10:30 p.m.
* Full Throttle Friday _ “All Welcome Test and Tune and Grudge Racing” with gates opening at 6 p.m. and racing from 6 p.m.-to-10:30 p.m. $20 General Admission or $30 to race. Kids 10-and-Under free.
* Saturday _ Shifted Society OSW Roll Race. Roll Racing Competition & Car Meet. This is primarily a street car–style roll racing event. Drag cars are allowed to participate in roll racing; however, no drag racing will take place during this event. Gates open at 2 p.m. with Roll Race Qualifying from 4 p.m.-to-7:30 p.m. and Eliminations from 8 p.m.-to-11 p.m. General Admission (Single Spectator), $25; VIP Parking + Admission (Limited availability), $50; Kids 10 & Under: FREE. Racer Tech Card, $75 (Includes roll racing tech card + driver admission).
The Dragway information Hotline is at (407) 568-5522 and the website is at _ www.raceosw.com/dragway/.
SpeedWorld is located 17 miles east of Orlando in Bithlo at 19164 East Colonial Drive, between Orlando and Titusville on Highway 50 at the 520 Cocoa Cutoff.
SANFORD ADULT SOFTBALL
Here is the schedule for this week in the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department Adult Softball Spring League.
The Semi-Co-Ed/Fun League on Wednesday has The West End Trading Company vs. Throwbacks at 6:30 p.m.; FedUp vs. Bucks at 7:30 p.m. and Longhorns vs. Pat’s Liquor at 8:30 p.m. Parkway Punishers will have the Bye.
The Men’s League on Tuesday (April 7) will have Celery City Gamecocks playing the doubleheader against The Handicapps at 6:30 p.m. and Venezolanos en Sanford at 7:30 p.m. and the Bokey Batters facing the The West End Trading Company at 8:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited to watch the games for free at Pinehurst Park on West 24th Street.
For more information contact Dominic Pascuzzo, City of Sanford Recreation Supervisor, at the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120, extension 5004; Fax _ 407-688-5121; facebook.com/SanfordFLCityGovt; instagram.com/cityofsanfordfl; visit the city website _ www.sanfordfl.gov _ or email: [email protected].
ORLANDO PRIDE
The Orlando Pride (0-1-1, 1 point) earned its first win of the season, defeating Chicago Stars FC (1-1-0, 3 points) via a 3-0 scoreline on Wednesday night at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Ill. Barbra Banda, Jacquie Ovalle and Hannah Anderson got on the scoreboard as Orlando ended the Stars’ nine-game unbeaten run at home.
Goal Highlights:
* Barbra Banda (Ally Lemos) 13’ – ORL 1, CHI 0.
* Jacquie Ovalle (Solai Washington) 22’ – ORL 2, CHI 0.
* Hannah Anderson (Jacquie Ovalle) 35’ – ORL 3, CHI 0.
Next Match:
The Pride played at Gotham FC on Sunday and will return to Inter&Co Stadium on Friday to host Angel City FC at 8 p.m. on Prime Video.
VALKYRIES HIT THE ROAD
The Orlando Valkyries will hit the road to face the Atlanta Vibe at the Georgia State Convocation Center at 6 p.m. on Saturday on the CBS Sports Network.
ORLANDO CITY
Orlando City SC (1-4-0, 3 points) will return to action following an FIFA international window. The Lions will travel to California to take on LAFC at BMO Stadium on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. on Apple TV.
For more information on Orlando City SC, visit OrlandoCitySC.com or follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
