Knights limp into postseason after collapse

UCF

The Knights finished off their regular season by losing their final six games in a row. The streak was the longest of the season for the Knights, who struggled against UConn pitching and East Carolina hitting in their final two series.

The Knights nearly pulled off an upset win in their season finale, with a six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth that turned an 8-1 sure-win for East Carolina into a game in doubt. But with six runs in already and the bases loaded, Sam Tolleson, who had already smacked two hits and an RBI on the day, worked the count to full, then struck out swinging to end the game.

Pirates pitcher Joe Ingle, who had given up all six runs and allowed nine runners to reach base while throwing 54 pitches in just one inning, recorded the final punchout himself with the score 8-7. From the mound, the game featured seven hit batsmen.

Batting eighth in the order, UCF center fielder Luke Hamblin made the most of it with two RBI, two hits and a run scored. Batting second, Eli Putnam had three hits and two RBI of his own.

For the Knights, a comeback attempt that fell short summed up the season, with the Knights finishing 25-31 overall and 8-16 in the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates (34-19-1, 15-8-1) used five pitchers to stop the Knights.

Despite the lackluster finish that dropped them to the bottom of the AAC ladder, the Knights got a shot at the post facing Tulane (37-17, 15-7), and stranded 11 runners in the process of losing 4-3.

The Knights out-hit the Green Wave, but left most of their base runners holding the bag each inning.

In the double-elimination tournament the Knights had one more shot at going deeper into the postseason with a showdown at press time Wednesday against Cincinnati (26-29-1, 13-10-1).

Summer baseball

The Florida Collegiate Summer League fires up the hotdog grills at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 2 at Sanford Memorial Stadium for its opening day tailgate party. The event will kick off the two-month Central Florida summer baseball season featuring Major League Baseball prospects.

The tailgate party will feature live music, games for adults and kids, $1 Yuengling beer, and baseball. The party will happen from 5 to 7 p.m. before the game, then at 7 p.m. the defending FCSL champion Sanford River Rats will take on the Leesburg Lightning. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors, military and kids age 7 and up. Kids age 6 and under are free.

The FCSL is filled with college-age MLB prospects from throughout the nation who come to Central Florida to showcase their skills in a wood bat league, just like in the majors. Nine major leaguers were former FCSL players, including World Series starter Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Chris Heston, who threw a no-hitter last season against the eventual National League champion Mets.

The six-team league features the local Winter Park Diamond Dawgs, who play out of Rollins College’s Alfond Stadium, and the Altamonte Springs Boom, DeLand Suns, Leesburg Lightning, Sanford River Rats and Winter Garden Squeeze. Sanford Memorial Stadium, hosting opening day, is the home of the River Rats.