WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State and UCF combined for 28 runs and 30 hits, but the Knights used multi-run innings in five of the last six frames to defeat the Shockers 16-12 on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

UCF (23-16) erased a 7-2 deficit with four runs in the fourth, two in the sixth, three in the seventh, two in the eighth, and three in the ninth. Five different Knights homered in the contest, and eight of the nine starters recorded a hit.

The Shockers (13-26) sprinted in front thanks to a three-run second and four more in the third. All three runs in the second scored on infield grounders; an infield single from Seth Stroh, a fielder's choice from Chuck Ingram, and an error by UCF third baseman Michael Brooks made it 3-1. After UCF got a run back in the top of the third, Wichita State struck for four in the bottom of the inning. Stroh clubbed a two-run double to right, and Ingram followed with a two-run single that increased the WSU lead to 7-2.

Starter Cameron Bye was unable to preserve the edge, as the Knights tagged him for four runs of their own in the top of the fourth. Bye ended the day with a no-decision, allowing six runs (five earned) over 3.1 innings. Five WSU relievers each surrendered at least one run, beginning with Ryan Stuempfig (0-2), who took the loss when UCF scored twice in the sixth to grab an 8-7 lead.

Stroh led off the bottom of the sixth with a game-tying solo homer, his fourth round-tripper of the season. The sophomore outfielder finished the day with a career-best four hits, including two doubles and a home run, plus a walk. He scored three times and drove in four, both matching his career high.

The Knights put three more runs on the board in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Gephry Pena that swelled the lead to 11-8. But the Shockers snagged a pair in the bottom half, scoring once on an RBI single from Andrew Stewart and again on a bases-loaded dropped third strike.

A two-run homer from Michael Brooks in the top of the eighth and a three-run shot from Andrew Sundean in the ninth put UCF in front 16-10. WSU made things interesting in the ninth, scoring another run on a wild pitch and then pulling with 16-12 on a two-out RBI double from Brock Rodden. Knights closer Kyle Kramer finally notched the save by retiring Sawyre Thornhill on a foul pop up to third.

Chase Centala (2-3) picked up the win for UCF, allowing four runs (three earned) over 4.2 innings with five strikeouts.

The Shockers and Knights conclude the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Eck Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 pm.