Knights rank in after weekend sweep

The UCF Knights blasted into the NCAA Top 25 with a convincing sweep of Rutgers just after nearly doing the same to Louisville the week before.

Three different Knights had two RBI apiece in the game that vaulted them to 28-16 on the year and 15-3 in the American Athletic Conference. In that game, which the Knights briefly did not lead for half of two innings, they went on a wild hitting streak that gave them eight runs in their last four innings. Right fielder Sam Tolleson only needed one swing of the bat to send the ball into the afternoon sun down the left field line, plating two in a wild four-run eighth inning.

Zach Rodgers would strike out the side to end the game.

For the Knights, who pulled even further away at the top of the AAC standings, a one game conference break ended their homestand against North Florida on Wednesday at press time. They head to Houston this weekend for a three-game series against the Cougars, who at 31-12 have the second best overall record in the conference, but have struggled against AAC foes with an 8-7 in-conference record.

Wildcats into regional tournament

A nail-biter of a win has propelled the Winter Park Wildcats baseball team into the regional tournament, and that tournament starts tonight (May 1). How they got there was a wild pitchers’ duel that ended with a 1-0 score on the board against University in the district championship with the Wildcats squeaking by with a win.

But University (14-11-3) was a different kind of team compared to the Wildcats’ next challenge in the quarterfinal of the regional tournament. Ft. Pierce’s Central High School took on some unusual opponents this season en route to a 13-9 record and district runner-up spot. The Cobras edged Master’s Academy 12-11 to finish off the regular season before falling 4-1 to powerhouse Vero Beach in the district championship.

That game will get going at 7 p.m. on May 1 at Winter Park’s home field. With a win the Wildcats will be into the semifinal round on May 6.