UCF baseball’s season ended on May 31 after a 9-3 defeat to No. 4 Auburn in an elimination game of the NCAA Auburn Regional at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama. The Knights, seeded second and holding a 32-23 record, were knocked out one win short of reaching the regional final, while top-seeded Auburn advanced to face Milwaukee later that night.
Head coach Rich Wallace said, “Congratulations to Auburn, they played a heck of a game. Our kids competed. They competed for the last two months as hard as any team I’ve ever coached and couldn’t be more proud of these guys. I’m really going to miss (DeAmez Ross) and (Zak Skinner), sitting here next to me as well as the rest of the departing seniors.”
The contest was delayed multiple times due to weather before UCF senior DeAmez Ross opened with a solo home run in the first inning. After building an early lead, UCF saw momentum shift as Auburn responded with six home runs throughout the game. The Tigers tied it up in the third inning with back-to-back solo shots by Mason McCraine and Chase Fralick.
Auburn continued its offensive push with additional home runs from Ethin Bingaman, Cade Belyeu, Taylor Belza, and another from Fralick. UCF senior Zak Skinner hit his own solo homer in the sixth inning, but it was not enough to overcome Auburn’s offense.
Pitcher Roman Kimball started for UCF and struck out seven batters over four-and-a-third innings but took his second loss of the season. Senior captain Ross finished his collegiate career going two-for-four with a home run and two RBIs; Skinner added another homer while Landon Moran contributed one hit and scored once.
This appearance marked UCF’s 14th regional showing overall and its second outside Florida in program history under Wallace’s leadership. The Knights finished their Big 12 Conference schedule tied for third place at 19-11—their best conference finish since joining—and earned an at-large bid into this year’s tournament.
