ORLANDO — Jordan Savinon made the most of his fifth start of the season as he hit a two-run home run and threw out the tying run at second defensively as the No. 15 UCF Knights defeated the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels 3-2 in Game 1 of a Sunday doubleheader.

Savinon was a part of all three UCF runs, as he finished the game 2-2 with two runs scored and 2 RBIs.

Ole Miss got on the board to start the game when they used a leadoff double from Kyle Watson and then two resourceful outs to take a 1-0 lead in the opening inning of the game.

UCF used small ball to get their first run of the game, as Savinon singled and then the Knights used two bunts from JoMarcos Woods and Dylan Moore to advance Savinon to third before an Erik Barber sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.

Savinon continued to help the Knights with his bat the following inning when he hit a 2-run home run with two outs to give UCF a 3-1 lead.

The Rebels cut UCF’s lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning when another leadoff double to score another run when Cameron Dishon drove in Henri Lartigue with a single.

Starting pitcher Cre Finfrock was pulled in the fifth inning after going 4.1 innings pitched and allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs while recording 2 strikeouts. Finfrock did get the win, improving to 3-0 on the season with a 2.25 ERA.

Harrison Hukari came in to finish the fourth inning for the Knights and ended up pitching the final 2.2 innings for his first save of the season. Hukari gave up no hits and no runs during the save and struck out 2.

The game was scheduled for only seven innings because it was to make up Saturday’s rained out game, but needed to be concluded before Game 3’s original start time of 11:30.

With the win UCF improves their program-best record to 10-0 for the season and will have a chance to sweep Ole Miss in Game 3 later on Sunday. Robbie Howell is scheduled to pitch for UCF against Ole Miss’ Sam Smith.