LAKELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — Zak Skinner delivered a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning as UCF rallied past Stetson 6-5 on Wednesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Skinner finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including the go-ahead hit that capped a three-run eighth for the Knights, who improved to 26-15. Stetson fell to 18-26.

The Hatters struck first in the top of the second when designated hitter Yohann Dessureault homered to right field, his sixth of the season, giving Stetson a 1-0 lead. Dessureault went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

UCF answered in the bottom half of the first. With one out, Zak Williamson singled and advanced on a wild pitch. Skinner doubled to right, putting runners at second and third. Javier Crespo followed with a double to center, scoring Williamson and cutting Stetson’s lead to 1-0. The Knights left two runners stranded when a double play ended the inning.

The Hatters stretched their lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, a batter doubled to right and later scored on a single up the middle. A subsequent double moved runners to second and third, but UCF reliever Max Murray escaped further damage with a flyout.

Stetson made it 3-1 in the fifth when Dessureault doubled to left center, driving in a runner from first. UCF starter Roman Kimball worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out four.

The Knights chipped away in the bottom of the fifth. A one-out single by Andrew Jacobs preceded consecutive strikeouts. Skinner then tripled to center, scoring Jacobs. Crespo doubled to left center, plating Skinner and pulling UCF within 3-2. Stetson turned to reliever Brendan Steed, who got a flyout to end the inning.

Stetson added two runs in the top of the sixth. After a hit batter and a flyout, a single put runners at first and second. A strikeout preceded a single to center by a Stetson batter that scored one run. An error on UCF reliever Kris Sosnowski on a failed pickoff attempt allowed a second run to score, making it 5-2. Sosnowski stranded a runner with a groundout.

UCF cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, a walk and a strikeout left the Knights scoreless. The game remained 5-3 until the decisive bottom of the eighth.

Stetson reliever Kade Phillips began the eighth by allowing a single to left field by Ben Ross. A bunt single by Drew Lodise put runners at first and second. After a popout, Zak Williamson walked to load the bases. A fielder’s choice by Lex III scored Ross, cutting the Stetson lead to 5-4. Stetson brought in reliever Kody Moran. Skinner then doubled down the left field line, scoring Lodise and III to give UCF a 6-5 lead. Crespo grounded out to end the inning.

UCF closer Evan Jones worked a perfect ninth, striking out two and allowing one hit to secure the win. Jones earned the save.

Stetson starter TJ Melani pitched three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts. Stetson’s Jose Roig threw a scoreless inning with one strikeout.

UCF’s Sosnowski tossed 1 1/3 hitless innings. Murray allowed two hits and one earned run in 1 1/3 innings.

The Knights had 12 hits to Stetson’s 10.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 6-5 UCF victory. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Knights a 63.20 percent probability to win.