ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — Ty Smolinski’s two home runs led Kansas State to a 5-4 victory over UCF on Friday night at Jay Bergman Field, snapping the Wildcats’ recent skid in a Big 12 contest.

Smolinski, who entered the game hitless in his previous two outings and 0 for 4 in Thursday’s 10-6 loss to the Knights, went 2 for 4 with two homers and three RBIs. His first blast, a solo shot in the sixth inning, put Kansas State on the board. He struck again in the seventh with a two-run homer that capped a five-run outburst. Designated hitter AJ Evasco also contributed with a two-run homer in the seventh.

Kansas State starter Lincoln Sheffield pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on zero hits while striking out six. He left with a 5-0 lead after a rocky seventh inning. Cohen Feser recorded the final three outs for the save, working a perfect ninth inning.

UCF starter Camden Wicker took the loss, surrendering five earned runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. The Knights used three relievers, including Anthony Lariz, who threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Zachary Malvasio, who struck out three in a scoreless frame.

The game was scoreless through five innings, with both pitchers trading zeroes. Kansas State broke through in the top of the sixth when Smolinski homered to right field. The Wildcats added four more in the seventh, sparked by a Kennedy hit by pitch. Evasco followed with a two-run homer to right, and after a single by Vasquez, Smolinski crushed his second homer of the game to make it 5-0.

UCF answered in the bottom of the seventh. With Sheffield still on the mound, Gaskin singled and Lodise walked. Jacobs singled to drive in Gaskin, cutting the lead to 5-1. After an out, Aaron Arnold relieved Sheffield. UCF’s Andrew Williamson delivered a two-run double, and Zak Skinner followed with an RBI single, pulling the Knights within 5-4. The rally ended when Crespo singled and Moran flied out.

Both bullpens held firm from there. Malvasio struck out two in the top of the eighth, and Lariz worked around a two-out single in the eighth to keep the deficit at one. Feser closed the door in the ninth, striking out one and retiring the side in order.

Kansas State improved to 27-24 overall, 15-14 in Big 12 play. UCF fell to 30-20, 17-12.

The Wildcats collected seven hits, while UCF had 10 hits but left nine runners on base. Williamson drove in two runs for the Knights, and Skinner went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

The game marked the first of a three-game series after Kansas State dropped the opener Thursday. The teams meet again Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected UCF to win 6-1 entering the contest, and the Interstat ELO system gave the Knights a 58.00 percent probability of victory.