AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — Andrew Williamson hit three home runs and drove in six runs to power UCF to a 9-3 victory over North Carolina State in a playoff game Friday at Samford Stadium – Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park.

The Knights fell behind 3-0 in the first inning but rallied quickly. Williamson’s two-run homer in the bottom of the first cut the deficit, and Jordan Lodise tied it with a solo shot in the second. UCF took the lead for good in the third on a run-scoring single by Zach Skinner and an RBI by Landon Moran.

Williamson added a three-run homer in the fifth and a solo blast in the seventh. The Knights improved to 32-21, while the Wolfpack fell to 32-23.

UCF relievers Kaniel Rosado, Anthony Lariz, Max Murray and Julien Peissel combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings. NC State starter Anderson Nance allowed eight earned runs in six innings. Chris McHugh had two hits for the Wolfpack.