No. 13 Knights blast FAMU, 16-4

The No. 13 UCF Knights’ offense exploded Tuesday night to the tune of eight doubles and a season-high 20 hits, as the Knights (27-7) defeated the Florida A&M Rattlers (6-31), 16-4.

Second baseman Spencer Haynes led the way for UCF, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored in the game, his fourth start ever as a Knight.

“To be able to go out there with less than 20 at bats under my belt and be able to get 4 hits in one night, that is huge for me and the team,” Haynes said.

After a two-run error by Haynes aided a three-run fourth inning for the Rattlers put FAMU up by a run, Ronnie Richardson and D.J. Hicks each hit an RBI double to put the Knights on top for the rest of the game. Richardson went 2-for-4 and scored three runs, and he was also hit by his 51st pitch of his career, which is second all-time at UCF. Hicks leads the nation with 48 RBIs.

UCF went on to score 12 more runs, with eight in the seventh inning, where the Knights sent 14 batters to the plate. The Rattlers added only one more run in the top of the ninth.

Senior Matt Collins got the start for the Knights, pitching three innings and giving up three unearned runs. Sophomore Ben Lively threw three scoreless innings of relief en route to the win and a 5-0 record. Harrison Hukari and Gregg Cooke also took the hill in relief.

The Knights started three true freshmen in the game. JoMarcos Woods started in left field. Tommy Williams started for junior Darnell Sweeney at shortstop, making it the first game of Sweeney’s career that he did not start. James Vasquez started at first base for the Knights. Regular starters Travis Shreve, Ryan Breen and Sweeney did not play in the game.

“We gave those guys a break, and it was good to get some of the regulars out of there,” said head coach Terry Rooney.

The Knights host the Bethune Cookman Wildcats on Wednesday night at 6:30.