ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — Stephen Chucka’s pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning tied the game, and a throwing error by Kansas State first baseman Smolinski allowed the walk-off run to score, giving UCF a 6-5 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon and evening at Jay Bergman Field.

The Knights improved to 31-20 overall and 14-12 in the Big 12, while the Wildcats dropped to 27-25 and 11-15. Kansas State had won the series opener Friday 5-4 before UCF bounced back Saturday.

Kansas State grabbed an early lead in the top of the first. Kennedy was hit by a pitch, advanced on a single by Smolinski and a flyout, then scored on a groundout by Evasco. The Wildcats added a run in the fourth when Inoue singled, stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Smolinski’s double to right-center.

UCF answered in the bottom of the second. Crespo walked, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lodise. Crespo homered to left in the fourth, his fourth of the season, to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Kansas State extended its lead in the eighth. Lodice, pinch-hitting for English, homered to right-center, his second of the year. Gallagher singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Karl’s single through the left side. Karl stole second but was stranded.

The Wildcats made it 5-1 in the top of the ninth. Putz, pinch-running for Evasco after a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a walk to Madliak. Lodice sacrificed Putz to third and Madliak to second, then Gallagher’s sacrifice fly to center scored Putz.

UCF chipped away. Lodise doubled to left in the sixth, scoring Moran. In the eighth, Moran singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Lodise’s fielder’s choice to the pitcher.

Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Chucka led off with a pinch-hit homer to left-center, his first of the season, tying the game. Williamson singled to center with two outs, and Crespo singled up the middle, advancing Williamson to third. Moran then reached on a throwing error by first baseman Smolinski, allowing Williamson to score the unearned, walk-off run.

Kaniel Rosado was the top performer for UCF, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits and striking out two. Miles Smith worked 2.2 innings for Kansas State, giving up no hits and one earned run with one strikeout. Jordan Lodise drove in three runs for the Knights, going 1 for 3 with a double and two sacrifice flies. Javier Crespo went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. For Kansas State, Adan Longoria, Billy Eich and Adam Arther each threw two or more scoreless innings in relief, with Longoria and Arther each allowing one earned run.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of UCF 6, Kansas State 1, and its ELO system gave the Knights a 58.80 percent probability to win.