ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — The Arizona State Sun Devils defeated the UCF Knights 9-4 on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Jay Bergman Field in a Big 12 matchup, improving to 32-14 while the Knights fell to 26-16.

Arizona State’s offense pounded out 15 hits and scored in five different innings, capitalizing on early home runs and patient at-bats. The Sun Devils took control with a three-run second inning and a four-run third inning that built a insurmountable lead.

UCF struck first in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back solo home runs. Andrew Skinner hit his fourth homer of the season, and Javier Crespo followed with his third, giving the Knights a 2-0 lead. But Arizona State answered quickly.

In the top of the second, Garrett Michel led off with a solo homer to center field, his third of the season, cutting the deficit to 2-1. After a double by Polk and a flyout, PJ Moutzouridis doubled down the left-field line to score Polk and tie the game 2-2. Two batters later, Nu’u Contrades doubled to left-center, scoring Moutzouridis and giving the Sun Devils a 3-2 lead.

The Sun Devils extended their lead in the third inning. After a single by Smaldino and a walk to Michel, Briggs walked to load the bases. Moutzouridis walked to force in a run, and Hairston was hit by a pitch to score another. With the bases still loaded, Contrades singled to left field, driving in two more runs. By the end of the inning, Arizona State led 7-2.

UCF got one run back in the bottom of the fourth when Moran doubled and scored on a single by Ross, making it 7-3. But Arizona State answered again in the fifth. With Briggs on second, Contrades singled to center, scoring Briggs and advancing to second on a fielding error. The Sun Devils added insurance in the eighth on a sacrifice bunt by Briggs that scored Smaldino and a single by Moutzouridis that drove in Polk, pushing the lead to 9-3.

UCF’s final run came in the bottom of the seventh when III hit a solo homer to center, his 11th of the season. The Knights threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with two walks and a single, but reliever Sean Fitzpatrick got a groundout to end the inning. Derek Schaefer closed the ninth by allowing a single but inducing a game-ending groundout.

Cole Carlon was the top star for Arizona State, working five innings while allowing zero hits and three earned runs with seven strikeouts. His previous start was a win against Baylor on April 24, where he tossed six innings with two earned runs and 11 strikeouts. Nu’u Contrades went 4 for 6 with three RBIs, while Moutzouridis drove in three runs and Michel homered. For UCF, Crespo went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI, and Skinner also homered.

The Sun Devils’ bullpen held UCF in check: Taylor Penn threw 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball, allowing one earned run and striking out three; Fitzpatrick recorded one out; and Schaefer pitched a scoreless ninth with a strikeout. For UCF, Max Murray threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out six.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arizona State 8, UCF 6, while Interstat’s ELO system gave UCF a 50.10 percent probability to win. The teams continue the series Saturday and Sunday in Orlando.