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UCF faces must-win showdown in regional after loss to Milwaukee

If UCF wanted to earn a spot in the finals of the NCAA’s Auburn Regional, all the Knights had to do was slow down one of the hottest teams in college baseball in Milwaukee.

Instead, Rich Wallace’s team found themselves shellshocked after the Panthers jumped out to an early 9-0 lead before cruising to a 13-6 win in Game 4 of the winner’s bracket at Plainsman Park on Saturday night.

The Knights (32-22) must face Auburn in a do-or-die showdown on Sunday at 3 p.m., with the winner earning a rematch with Milwaukee (27-31) in the finals at 8 p.m.

“I thought Milwaukee played an unbelievable game offensively and we helped them a little bit with some of the free stuff,” said Wallace. “We have to figure out a way to come back tomorrow.”

UWM, the winner of 22 of its last 30 games, entered Saturday’s game batting .439 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in the regional after downing top-seed and host Auburn, 13-8, in the first game on Friday.

Milwaukee pitcher Aric Ehmke (6-6) kept UCF’s offense in check, holding the Knights to just 2 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings before being replaced by reliever Cullen Riel.

Right-hander Mateo Gray (5-2), who was making his 9th start of the season for UCF, struggled in the first inning after walking the lead-off runner and giving up a single, setting up an RBI double by UWM’s Dylan O’Connell.

A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for left fielder Bradyn Horn, who flied out to left field for a sacrifice fly, scoring another run. First baseman John Hadley lined into a double-play, ending the inning with the Panthers up 2-0.

The game was paused for about 20 minutes in the top of the second after home plate umpire Blake Felix was replaced after getting hit in the mask with a pitch. Travis Carlson, who was at second base, moved behind the plate.

After the resumption of action, Ehmke struck out catcher Zak Skinner and third baseman Javier Crespo before getting first baseman Landon Moran to fly out.

Grey’s day ended in the second inning when he was lifted for reliever Kevin Schoneboom with a runner on second and one out. After a groundout, third baseman Grant Ross had an RBI double down the leftfield line to make it 3-0.

Designated hitter Stephen Chucka’s hammered a ball into deep centerfield for a 2-RBI double to stretch the lead to 5-0.

Milwaukee broke the game open in the bottom of the third, thanks to back-to-back-to-back walks with the bases loaded, which scored three runs, while a wild pitch added another to stretch the UWM lead to 9-0. UCF made a pair of pitching changes in the inning with Max Murray and Evan Jones, but nothing seemed to work.

UCF broke through in the top of the fifth after a two-out RBI single by DeAmez Ross scored the first run of the evening for the Knights. It was Ross’ 35th RBI of the season and made the score, 9-1.

The Panthers answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run by Ross, his sixth homer of the season.

UCF right fielder Andrew Williamson continued his strong postseason with another home run in the top of the sixth inning, his fourth over the past two games. The 443-foot blast was his 16th homer of the season. An RBI single by Moran cut the lead to 10-3.

An RBI double by second baseman Austin Jacobs and an RBI ground out by DeAmez Ross pulled the Knights to within 10-6.

UWM put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three more runs to extend the lead to 13-6.

The Knights used six pitchers in the game, accounting for 13 runs on 9 hits with 9 walks and 8 strikeouts.

AUBURN REGIONAL SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

Game 1: Milwaukee 13, Auburn 8

Game 2: UCF vs. N.C. State (resumes on Saturday)

SATURDAY

Game 3: Auburn 17, NC State 13; loser eliminated

Game 4: Milwaukee 13, UCF 6

SUNDAY

Game 5: Auburn vs. UCF, 3 p.m.; loser eliminated

Game 6: Milwaukee vs. Game 5 winner, 8 p.m.

MONDAY

Game 7: If necessary

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

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