Box Score

Freshman leftfielder Matthew Mika capped a five-run bottom of the ninth with a walk off RBI single as regional power Central Florida rallied to stun Siena Baseball 10-9 on a wild opening night in Orlando. Freshmen Jordan Folgers and Brian Kelly each drove in two runs apiece during an eight-run sixth inning for the Saints.

What had been a pitcher's duel early turned into a barnburner late as the teams combined to score 17 of the 19 runs over the final four innings. Mika had opened the scoring with a solo homerun to lead off the home half of third and Matt Diorio added a sac fly two innings later to give UCF a 2-0 lead through five.

After being held to just one hit over the first five innings by Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection Cre Finfrock, the Saints finally broke through against the Knights' ace in a big way in the sixth. The first nine Siena batters all reached base safely and the Saints sent 12 men to the plate overall in an eight-run frame on the strength of six hits against Finfrock and a pair of relievers.

After reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Joe Drpich singled to open the inning, Folgers deposited his first career homerun over the outfield wall to even the score. Senior rightfielder Fred Smart delivered the go-ahead RBI single four batters later, and Kelly provided some insurance with a two-run double.

UCF got two runs back in the bottom of the inning to halve the deficit and the teams each traded runs in the eighth as Siena took a 9-5 lead into the final inning.

But in the bottom of the ninth the first four Knights reached and third baseman Kam Gellinger's two-run double knotted the score. After pinch hitter Sam Tolleson walked, Mika delivered the decisive hit to right center field to complete the comeback. Mika tallied three hits and three RBI and stole a base in addition to homering in his collegiate debut.

Senior captain Bryan Goossens got the start on the mound for the Saints and scattered four hits and two runs (one earned) over five effective innings while striking out two. Drpich and classmate Jordan Bishop finished with two hits apiece for Siena which was opening for a fourth straight year and fifth time in the last six seasons at UCF.

Gellinger recorded three hits and drove in four runs out of the eight-hole for the perennial power Knights which have now captured 46 of the 50 all-time meetings between the programs.

The Saints will look to bounce back in the middle game of the series Saturday at 4 p.m. Senior southpaw Kyano Cummings is scheduled to get the start for the Saints, with righthander Robby Howell slated to toe the slab for UCF.