UCF defeated Bethune-Cookman 5-4 on April 21 after scoring twice in the eighth inning at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
The game saw Bethune-Cookman take an early lead, but UCF’s late comeback secured the victory and ended the Wildcats’ winning streak. The result impacts both teams as they approach the final stretch of their respective seasons.
Bethune-Cookman started strong with a solo home run from Andrey Martinez in the first inning, followed by an RBI double by Maikol Lucena for a 2-0 advantage. UCF responded with a run in the second and took a brief lead in the fourth inning thanks to RBI singles from Jacobs and Smith. The Wildcats regained control in the sixth when Jorge Rodriguez hit an RBI single and Jose Fernandez added a sacrifice fly, making it 4-3.
In the eighth, UCF’s Zak Skinner delivered a two-run single up the middle, driving in Cayden Gaskin and Andrew Williamson to put UCF ahead for good. Despite a leadoff single by Bethune-Cookman in the ninth, their rally was cut short by a pickoff and two groundouts.
Pablo Torres took his second loss of the season after allowing UCF’s go-ahead runs. For Bethune-Cookman, Lucena and Fernandez each recorded two hits while Martinez hit his seventh home run this year. Bryon Rincones contributed with two innings of scoreless relief featuring three strikeouts. Overall, UCF out-hit Bethune-Cookman twelve to nine.
Bethune-Cookman’s next game is scheduled against UCF at Jackie Robinson Ballpark with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
