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UCF Grabs 9-1 Win Over Maryland

The Knights used a six-run second inning to claim their fifth run-rule victory of the weekend.

ORLANDO, FL — The UCF Knights slugged their way to a 9-1 win over Maryland in the Terps' final game of the Black and Gold Classic on Sunday afternoon. A six-run inning from the Knights dropped Maryland to 2-3 in its first tournament of the 2026 season.

A night after hitting three homers against the Terps, UCF got the scoring started in the first inning with a two-run blast to take an early lead. Mariah Penta immediately halved the Knights' lead with a sacrifice-fly in the top of the second to drive in Bailey Murphy. 

Maryland surrendered its second grand slam in as many days as Izzy Mertez drove her second homer of the game out to left field to extend the lead. UCF used a six-run, six-hit frame to open a 8-1 lead.

Keira Bucher came in to pitch after the early offensive surge from the Knights and threw the Terps' first 1-2-3 inning of the game. She finished with 2.2 innings of work, allowing just one run on four hits over that span. The Knights scored in the bottom of the fifth to seal their fifth run-rule victory of the weekend. Maryland is back in action next weekend with five games in the Purple-Gold Classic. 

How It Happened:
1st Inning:
  • UCF got the scoring started with a two-run homer from Mertez in the bottom of the first inning. 
  • Olensky fanned a hitter to leave the bases loaded. 
2nd Inning:
  • Penta drove the Terps' first run of the day home with a sac-fly.
  • Mertez's grand slam extended the Knights' lead to 6-1.
  • Sierra Humphreys hit a solo shot to left field. 
  • UCF took an 8-1 lead on an RBI single.
4th Inning:
  • Bucher stranded two with a strikeout to end her second scoreless frame. 
5th Inning:
  • UCF closed out its win with an RBI double.
Up Next:
  • Maryland heads to Greenville, NC, for the Purple-Gold classic from Feb. 13-15. The Terps will play five games across three days, with the first coming against Buffalo on Feb. 13.
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Players Mentioned

Keira Bucher

#4 Keira Bucher

P
Senior
Bailey Murphy

#3 Bailey Murphy

OF
5' 8"
Junior
Mariah Penta

#8 Mariah Penta

UTL
5' 9"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Keira Bucher

#4 Keira Bucher

Senior
P
Bailey Murphy

#3 Bailey Murphy

5' 8"
Junior
OF
Mariah Penta

#8 Mariah Penta

5' 9"
Junior
UTL