UCF's season ends with loss to Auburn in NCAA Regional

UCF's season came to a disappointing finish as Auburn hammered six home runs, two by catcher Chase Fralick, as the Tigers cruised to a 9-3 win over the Knights on Sunday night.

It was a frustrating end to a strange few days as the weather wreaked havoc on the Auburn Regional at Plainsman Park.

There were multiple delays during UCF's first game against N.C. State on Friday night, with the contest finally suspended until Saturday morning.

The start of Sunday's game was delayed three hours due to inclement weather in the Auburn area.

When the game finally started, UCF's leadoff hitter DeAmez Ross took an 0-1 pitch from Auburn pitcher Alex Petrovic (10-2) over the right field wall for a solo home run and a quick 1-0 lead for the Knights. It was Ross' fourth homer of the season and sixth by the team in the regionals.

"It's the last game, so you want to go out swinging," Ross said. "I just wanted to set the team started and set the tone at leadoff. To let them know that we were coming here to compete."

UCF starter Roman Kimball (1-2) faced one batter before lightning in the area forced a 22-minute delay. When the game picked back up, Kimball got the next two batters out in order.

The Knights (32-23) maintained their offensive push at the top of the second after first baseman Landon Moran, shortstop Jordan Lodise and second baseman Austin Jacobs loaded the bases with one out. That set the stage for Ross, whose RBI infield hit brought the score to 2-0.

Auburn got a runner on second base with one out in the bottom of the second before the game underwent another 28-minute delay due to lightning.

The Tigers entered the game batting .357 with 25 runs and eight homers in two games of the regionals. It didn't take long before they began to flex their muscles again.

Solo home runs by right fielder Mason McCraine and Fralick tied the game for the Tigers in the third inning. And another solo homer by first baseman Ethin Bingaman in the fourth inning gave Auburn the lead at 3-2.

Kimball pitched into the fifth inning but was replaced with reliever Anthony Lariz after Auburn loaded the bases with one out. The redshirt senior allowed four runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out seven.

Lariz got out of the inning, but not before second baseman Chris Rembert's flyout to right field scored a run to make it 4-2.

UCF catcher Zak Skinner's 430-foot lead-off home run in the top of the sixth cut the lead to 4-3. It was the redshirt senior's sixth homer of the season.

"We held on for as long as we could. I was just trying to get a pitch that I could do damage with and something I could hit hard, and luckily I was able to do that," Skinner said.

Auburn struck back in the bottom of the inning with the fourth and fifth solo home runs of the game, one by center fielder Cade Belyeu and the other by designated hitter Taylor Belza, to extend the lead to 6-3.

Fralick's second solo homer of the game, this one off Matt Sauser, stretched the advantage to 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh.

The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth.

It was a tough finish for a team that battled injuries but still bounced back to finish third in the Big 12 and earn a postseason spot for the first time since the 2024 season.

"You could look at the success on the field, but it starts off with our senior leaders," said UCF coach Rich Wallace. "I asked them to be a team and eventually they became a family. They played with the toughness and the grit that we believe in at UCF. I've coached teams that have dealt with the injuries and setbacks that we've had and they don't even come close to accomplishing what this group has."

Auburn (40-20) advances to face Milwaukee in the regional final on Monday.

AUBURN REGIONAL SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

Game 1: Milwaukee 13, Auburn 8

Game 2: UCF 9, N.C. State 3

SATURDAY

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

Game 4: Milwaukee 13, UCF 6

SUNDAY

Game 5: Auburn 9, UCF 3; loser eliminated

MONDAY

Game 6: Milwaukee vs. Auburn, TBD; moved from Sunday night

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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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 11:43 PM.