BOCA RATON (Interstat) — Dalton Robinson struck out eight over four hitless innings of relief and Patrick Ward homered Tuesday night to lead Florida Atlantic past UCF 6-5 at FAU Baseball Stadium.

Robinson entered with one out in the third inning after the Knights had already built a 5-0 lead, and allowed no hits and no walks while fanning eight over four innings. He retired the first 12 batters he faced before being replaced by Reilly Witmer to start the seventh. Robinson’s outing lowered his season ERA and marked a sharp rebound from his previous appearance Sunday when he gave up one earned run in two innings against South Florida.

Ward’s two-run homer in the bottom of the second pulled the Owls within 5-2 after UCF had erupted for five runs in the top half. Ward finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Patrick Ward’s blast to left field scored John Patten, who had walked.

The Knights scored all five of their runs in the second inning on a two-run single by Brooks, a sacrifice bunt by Jacobs that scored Ross, and a single up the middle by Williamson that plated Lodise. UCF loaded the bases on walks to Crespo and Moran and a single by Ross before Brooks delivered the two-run hit through the right side.

Florida Atlantic answered quickly. After Ward’s homer, Boylston singled and Gramesty singled before a sacrifice fly by Leroux scored Boylston. Gramesty stole second and Lipsey singled him home. Lipsey then stole second, but the Owls left two on base when Romano struck out looking and Perazza walked before Martinez flied out to center.

The game turned in the bottom of the sixth. With the score still 5-4 in favor of UCF, Leroux walked and Lipsey was hit by a pitch. Romano singled to shallow center field, scoring Leroux to tie the game. Lipsey advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Perazza, giving the Owls their first lead at 6-5.

Wyatt Dion pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief for UCF, striking out one. Max Murray struck out three in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Garrett Grant earned the save with two innings of one-hit relief, striking out two. Braden Calise took the loss after allowing two runs on one hit in 1 1/3 innings.

Javier Crespo drove in UCF’s final run with a double in the third inning. He finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. The Knights managed only five hits off five Florida Atlantic pitchers.

UCF fell to 27-18. Florida Atlantic improved to 25-23. The Owls next play at Wichita State on Friday. UCF travels to Baylor on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of UCF 7, Florida Atlantic 6, and its ELO system gave UCF a 60.2 percent probability to win.