ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — Edwin Alicea delivered a dominant six-inning, no-hit start and Nate Earley launched a two-run homer in the first inning as the South Florida Bulls cruised to a 9-2 victory over the UCF Knights in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Jay Bergman Field.

The Bulls, who improved to 9-2 overall, seized control immediately against UCF starter Kaden Smith. After two quick outs in the top of the first, Jake Kulikowski singled and Earley followed by driving a pitch deep over the right field wall for a 2-0 lead.

That early offense proved more than enough for Alicea. The right-hander, coming off a rough outing where he allowed six earned runs against Georgia Southern, was in complete command. He walked three and struck out two, but did not allow a hit over his six frames. The Knights’ only offense against him came via a pair of unearned runs in the second inning, capitalizing on a fielding error by Bulls shortstop Relaford.

UCF (4-5) scored without a hit in that second inning. After two walks, UCF’s Lodise reached on a fielder’s choice, and a throwing error on the play allowed Moran to score. Calise then delivered an RBI single to shortstop, plating Gaskin to cut the deficit to 2-1. Alicea escaped further damage by inducing an inning-ending double play.

South Florida broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning, chasing Smith. Pruitt led off with a double, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on Lohry’s RBI single. After Kulikowski doubled, UCF turned to reliever Kevin Schoneboom. Lance Trippel greeted him with a two-run double to left field, scoring Lohry and Kulikowski to extend the lead to 6-2.

The Bulls added three unearned runs in the sixth, aided by a throwing error from UCF third baseman Crespo and a wild pitch. Matt Rose, pinch-hitting, drove in a run with a groundout, and Trippel added an RBI single to complete the scoring.

The most important sequence of the game was Alicea’s response after his team’s defensive miscue in the second. With the lead halved and two runners on base, he calmly induced a 4-6-3 double play from Ross to snuff out the Knights’ rally. From that point, Alicea retired 13 of the final 16 batters he faced, allowing only two more walks and a hit batter, to silence the UCF offense completely.

Following Alicea’s departure, the Bulls’ bullpen preserved the no-hit bid into the seventh. Will Allen recorded two outs before UCF pinch-hitter III broke up the no-hitter with a single up the middle. Allen and Kaden Smith combined for three scoreless innings of relief to close out the win.

Offensively, South Florida racked up 13 hits. Kulikowski went 3 for 4 with two runs scored, Earley was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, and Trippel drove in three runs on two hits.

For UCF, Max Murray provided a bright spot with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out four. The Knights managed just six hits total and grounded into three double plays.

The loss came despite Interstat’s ELO system projecting UCF with a 64.1 percent probability to win the contest.

The two in-state rivals were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday.