FSU dominates UCF for 18-1 win

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Danny Morales / Valencia Voice

Tommy Williams scored the Knights lone run of the game with his solo home run in the fourth inning.

UCF couldn’t dig themselves out of a fourth inning, which saw the No. 2 ranked FSU Seminoles score six runs, as the Knights would fall to the ‘Noles 18-1 on Wednesday at Jay Bergman Field.

Florida State designated hitter Casey Smit went 3-4 for the game, while scoring three run and driving in another for the ‘Noles.

UCF’s best hitter of the day was Tommy Williams, who went 2-2 with a home run, which was the Knights only run of the ball game.

FSU scored in all but three innings against UCF, including a six run fourth and seven run seventh.

“One of the things that makes Florida State an outstanding team, an outstanding program, is that they take advantage of what you give them.” said UCF head coach Terry Rooney after the game. “And they certainly did that today.

“They capitalized on every opportunity and did a terrific job.”

‘Noles center fielder Ben DeLuzio drove in the first run of the game in the second inning, when his two-out double to right field scored John Sansone from second, giving the FSU an early 1-0 lead.

The ‘Noles would add six runs to their lead in the fourth inning, all but one of which would come off of relief pitcher Robbie Howell with no outs. The Knights would go into the bottom of the fourth inning trailing FSU 7-0.

UCF would get one back in the bottom of the fourth when Tommy Williams drove the Bryant Holtmann pitch to deep left-center for his fourth home run of the season.

FSU added another run to their lead in the fifth inning, when Ben DeLuzio drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, while DJ Stewart extended the ‘Noles lead to 10-1 in the sixth inning, when he hit a two-run home run to deep left-center field.

The ‘Noles drastically added to their lead in the seventh, with seven more runs in the top half of the inning. They would go on to add one more in the ninth, thanks to a Gage West solo home run.

Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston did not start for the ‘Noles, but he did finish the game batting 0-3 after coming in as a substitute in the fifth inning.

The 18-1 loss is the Knights’ worst defeat since a 20-3 loss to Houston on March 28, 2010.

With the loss UCF’s record falls to 7-11 for the season, while FSU improves to 14-2. The Knights have now lost nine of their last 10 games.

“We need to get back to work in these next few days and make sure that our command of the strike zone gets a little bit better and that we don’t give away too many free passes.” said Rooney about his pitching.

UCF will return to the field on Friday to start a three-game series against Central Connecticut. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m., with Knights ace Eric Skoglund taking the hill for UCF.