ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — UCF rallied past Kansas State 10-6 on Thursday at Jay Bergman Field, overcoming an early deficit with a seven-run outburst across the seventh and eighth innings.

Kansas State struck first when AJ Evasco homered in the third inning. Jordan Lodise answered for UCF with a solo shot in the bottom half. The Wildcats added a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth, taking a 6-3 lead on RBI singles by Karl and English.

UCF’s comeback began in the fifth with two runs on a groundout and a single. In the seventh, Stephen Chucka delivered a three-run double to give the Knights a 7-6 lead, and Lodise added a sacrifice fly. Andrew Williamson’s two-run homer in the eighth extended the lead to 10-6. Bear Madliak hit a two-run homer for Kansas State in the ninth, but the rally fell short.

UCF starter Mateo Gray allowed four hits and two earned runs over 3 1/3 innings. Tazwell Butler took the loss for Kansas State, allowing three runs in five innings despite no hits. The Knights collected 15 hits; the Wildcats had eight. UCF improved to 30-19, while Kansas State fell to 26-24.