Box score
Photo gallery

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, but fell to Central Florida 7-5 Sunday at Stanky Field.

USA (4-3) loaded the bases with an out in the bottom of the ninth, and cut the UCF lead to 7-3 when Cole Billingsley drew a walk to score Daniel Martinez, who reached on a single earlier in the inning. Cole Gleason followed with an RBI single to third base to score Drew LaBounty after he singled earlier in the frame. Jared Barnes lifted a one-out sacrifice fly to center field for the final Jaguar run.

UCF right-hander Robby Howell (2-0) allowed two runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks in 6 1/3 innings pitched to earn the win. Knight right-hander Trent Thompson struck out one inn two-thirds of an inning to earn his first save of the season. Jaguar left-hander Zach McMullen (0-1) struck out five without issuing a walk, and allowed two earned runs on seven hits in five innings pitched.

Gleason went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, and LaBounty finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Jags at the plate. Kyle Marsh went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Knights offensively.

UCF (7-0) took the first lead of the game in the top of the third inning. JoMarcos Woods doubled down the left-field line with one out, and scored on a two-out RBI single to center field by Kyle Marsh.

USA answered to tie the game in the bottom of the third on a two-out RBI single to center field by Cole Billingsley to score LaBounty, who reached on a one-out walk earlier in the inning.

The Jags took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth. DeGallier reached on a one-out single, advanced to second on a single to left field by Martinez and scored on a two-out RBI single to center field by Raspino for a 2-1 USA advantage.

But UCF answered to tie the game 2-2 a half-inning later when Logan Heiser homered to left field on the first pitch he saw from McMullen in the top of the fifth. Woods reached on a hit by pitch from McMullen with one out, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on a one-out single to left-center field by Marsh to give the Knights a 3-2 lead.

Erik Barber doubled the UCF lead to 4-2 in the top of the eighth with a solo home run to right-center field to lead off the inning. The Knights added their final three runs of the game in the ninth on a one-out RBI double from Woods, a sacrifice fly from Marsh and bases-loaded walk by Matt Diorio.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).