ORLANDO — Freshman designated hitter Rich Wallace singled off the right field fence to plate Matt Bowser with the winning run as the University of Central Florida upset No. 11 LSU 14-13 Friday at Tinker Field.
The Golden Knights trailed 10-5 after six innings before the bats got busy. Pinch hitter Darryl Stephens delivered a two-run single and Matt Meath knocked in a run with a fielder’s choice to make it 10-8.
When Brad Hawpe and Cedrick Harris singled in two more runs in the eighth, UCF (11-6) was forced to match it with a Wallace single that brought home two more runs. LSU (8-6) got one in the ninth on a single by Brad Cresse, setting the stage for a frantic finish.
The first three UCF hitters received free passes in the ninth. Closer Weylin Guidry departed after the first two walks, giving way to freshman Bo Pettit (1-1). Mark Batia drew the third walk and Bowser singled in pinch runner Mike Aranda to make it 13-11.
The baserunners waited patiently while Pettit record the 14th and 15th strikeouts for LSU pitchers on the evening. Jason Graham prolonged the inning by reaching on a bobbled grounder by Hawpe at first base. That play scored Mike Myers and Batia to tie the game and give Wallace the chance to make a difference.
Golden Knights closer Jason Arnold was the beneficiary of the comeback and improved his record to 2-1. He faced only two batters but they proved important. He fanned Hawpe after giving up the Cresse single in the top of the ninth.
Hawpe, Harris, Mike Fontenot and Blair Barbier each racked up three hits for the Tigers as they pounded out 19 hits. UCF had 13 with five players picking up two hits apiece. The Golden Knights’ Dustin Brisson and the Tigers’ Fontenot and Ray Wright each blasted solo home runs in the game.
The series continues tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Tinker. Sophomore right-hander Justin Pope (2-1, 4.39 ERA) will start for UCF. Senior righty Ben Saxon (1-0, 4.67) should get the call for the Tigers.