DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Interstat) — In a midweek nonconference clash that defied pregame projections, the UCF Knights edged the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 5-4 on Tuesday evening, snapping a three-game skid with a late rally and stellar relief pitching.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the top of the eighth inning with the Knights clinging to a one-run lead they had held since the fourth. UCF loaded the bases with one out against Wildcats reliever Pablo Torres. After an intentional walk to Andrew Williamson filled the bases, John Smith III delivered an infield single to shortstop, but the runners had to hold. Zak Skinner then broke the game open, lacing a two-run single up the middle to score pinch-runner Cayden Gaskin and Williamson, extending UCF’s lead to 5-2.

Those insurance runs proved vital. Bethune-Cookman had chipped away in the sixth, scoring twice on an RBI single by Jorge Rodriguez and a sacrifice fly from Jose Fernandez to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Wildcats threatened again in the ninth, putting the tying run on base with a leadoff single from Fernandez. However, UCF reliever Kris Sosnowski, who entered to close the game, picked off pinch-runner Caleb Scott at first base before getting a bunt out and a groundout to end the contest.

The victory improved UCF’s record to 22-15 overall, while Bethune-Cookman fell to 29-12.

The win was anchored by a standout performance from UCF starter Roman Kimball, who rebounded strongly from recent outings. The right-hander pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on just four hits while striking out four. His effort stabilized the game after a shaky first inning where Bethune-Cookman’s Andrey Martinez launched a solo home run and Maikol Lucena added an RBI double.

Kimball’s work was followed by lockdown relief from Kevin Schoneboom, who entered with two on and one out in the sixth and stranded both runners. He then pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings, striking out two, to bridge the gap to Sosnowski.

Offensively, UCF out-hit Bethune-Cookman 12-9. Smith led the Knights, going 3 for 5 with an RBI, while Williamson and Skinner each drove in two runs. For the Wildcats, Lucena finished 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Fernandez went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Bethune-Cookman starter Anthony Anselmo took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits over three innings of relief work after entering in the second. Wildcats relievers Bryon Rincones and Justin Morales combined for three scoreless innings to keep the game close.

The result contrasted sharply with a pregame simulation by Interstat, which had projected a 9-3 Wildcats victory, though the service’s ELO rating system had favored UCF with a 74.7% win probability.

UCF travels to open a series at Utah on Friday. Bethune-Cookman begins a weekend series at Florida A&M, also on Friday.