Stephen McGee’s bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a three-run rally and gave Florida State a 5-4 victory over Central Florida on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
FSU (38-9), ranked No. 10 in the nation by Baseball America, won its seventh straight game and improved to 30-2 at home this season. Central Florida fell to 26-22.
After giving up two unearned runs in the top of the ninth to fall behind 4-2, the Seminoles started the bottom half with walks by Jose Brizuela and Jameis Winston off reliever Zac Favre (2-2). Pinch-hitter Casey Smit then drilled a double off the right-field fence to drive in Brizuela and bring FSU within one.
After Giovanny Alfonzo was intentionally walked to load the bases, UCF brought in pitcher Eric Skoglund to face Seth Miller. Miller tied the score at 4 with a sacrifice fly to right. Smit and Alfonzo both tagged and advanced. D.J. Stewart was then intentionally walked, loading the bases and bringing McGee to the plate.
McGee, a junior catcher who starred at Port St. Lucie High School, lined a 2-0 pitch from Skoglund to center field to give FSU the win. The walk-off hit was the first of McGee’s college career.
“He does a heck of a job for us,” FSU coach Mike Martin said of McGee. “Every single day, he wants to be in (the lineup).
McGee went 2-for-4 with a walk and scored once. Robby Coles (4-1) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and earned the victory.
Miami 6, St. John's 4: Tyler Palmer hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning and Alex Hernandez added a two-run single in the inning as part of a three-RBI day as the host Hurricanes (32-18) completed a three-game sweep of the Red Storm (20-30).
Arkansas-Little Rock 10, Florida Atlantic 5: Austin Pfeiffer and Kaleb Jobe each had three RBIs to lead the visiting Trojans (24-23, 10-14 Sun Belt) past the Owls (28-19, 13-11). Arkansas-Little Rock won the final two games of the three-game series. Ricky Santiago was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for FAU.
