UCF has no answers in loss to FSU in Tallahassee Regional
Florida State pitcher Jamie Arnold struck out 12 UCF batters through seven innings as the Knights lost to the Seminoles 5-2 in the winner’s bracket of the Tallahassee Regional at Dick Howser Stadium on Saturday.
UCF (36-20) will face Stetson in an elimination game on Sunday at Noon. The Hatters (41-21) advanced with a 4-0 win over Alabama after pitchers Aric McAtee and Anthony DeFabbia combined to pitch a 5-hitter.
FSU (44-15) awaits the winner of UCF-Stetson in the championship game (6 p.m.).
The regional games were delayed three and a half hours due to weather, with the first pitch for the night contest coming at 8.
Arnold (11-3) struck out five of the first seven UCF batters he faced, including an immaculate inning in the second when he struck out three batters. A first-team All-ACC selection, the sophomore entered this weekend’s regional tournament ranked fifth in the nation in strikeouts (146).
Back-to-back singles by center fielder Max Williams and third baseman Cam Smith set up designated hitter Marco Dinges for an RBI single that first put FSU on the scoreboard. After left fielder Jaime Ferrer reached on a fielder’s choice, first baseman Daniel Cantu singled to bring in another run and a 2-0 lead.
UCF starting pitcher Ben Vespi (4-4) went three innings before being replaced in the top of the fourth after giving up a lead-off double to Jaxson West. Reliever Spencer Bauer entered the game and immediately surrendered a 2-run home run to Smith. It was the 15th homer of the season for the third baseman.
FSU continued its assault on Bauer, picking up a run on a RBI double by Ferrer to stretch the lead to 5-0.
UCF made a dent in the lead in the bottom of the fourth after first baseman Lex Boedicker, who was hit by a pitch, scored on an RBI double by right fielder Jack Zyska.
Bauer pitched into the sixth inning before being replaced by Kyle Kramer with one out. The right-handed reliever struck out the side.
In the seventh inning, Arnold walked catcher Danny Neri, gave up a single to Braden Calise and hit pinch-hitter Andrew Sundean to load the bases with no outs. Mikey Kluska ground into a double play that scored a run to cut the lead to 5-2 before a ground out by Andrew Brait ended the threat.
Arnold went seven innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, walking 2 and striking out 12 batters.
Kramer pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four before being lifted for Chase Centala in the seventh inning. Centala pitched into the ninth inning before being replaced by Najer Victor, who got the final out.
UCF’s postseason hopes hinge on beating Stetson. The Knights split a home-and-home series with Hatters, winning 7-1 in Orlando on March 13 and dropping a 5-3 decision in DeLand on April 10.
Matt Murschel can be reached at moc.lenitnesodnalro@lehcsrumm
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