Big 12 power and 2024 NCAA Tournament team Central Florida erupted for 13 unanswered runs over their final three innings at bat to rally past Siena Baseball 13-4 in the season-opener in Orlando.
 
Nick Bergamotto homered on the first pitch of the season and Noah Brooks added a two-run shot in the second to stake Siena to a quick 3-0 lead. No. 9 hitter Gavin Thorburn added a clutch two-out RBI single to make it 4-1 in the fourth to chase Preseason All-Big 12 selection Dom Stagliano early.
 
Alistair Morin tossed four strong innings allowing just an unearned run while striking out four before the UCF bats broke out against the bullpen in the sixth.
 
The first seven Knights reached base safely to open the home half of the sixth before UCF surrendered the first out of the inning on a sacrifice. Three consecutive doubles from the top-three hitters in the order DeAmez Ross, Braden Calise, and Andrew Williamson staked the Knights to a lead they would not relinquish.
 
UCF tacked on four insurance runs to open things up in the seventh before added one more in the eighth. The Knights tallied 12 runs on 11 hits in four innings off the Siena bullpen.
 
Meanwhile, the four UCF relievers held the Saints hitless over 5.1 combined innings out of the pen while walking just one and striking out six.
 
Siena will look to even the series Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.