ORLANDO, Fla. –  Bethune-Cookman held a 5-1 lead for most of the ballgame, but a five-run eighth sunk the Wildcats Tuesday in a 6-5 loss to UCF at John Euliano Park.
 

Alec Mendez received a no-decision despite another strong start. The freshman from Wellington, Fla. pitched six innings with four hits, a run, four walks and a strikeout. He benefited from a pair of double plays started by senior shortstop Nate Sterijevski.

BCU (16-36) raced out to the lead with a five-run second thanks to two infield errors and RBI knocks from Clarence Carter, Brady Van Hook, and Sterijevski.

UCF (30-19) took its first lead in the eighth and faced three relievers with Bryan Melendez, Seth Lovell (2-5) and Tyler Krull seeing action. Ben McCabe hit a bases-loaded three-run double to give the Knights the lead.

BCU rallied in the ninth but stranded Khalil Smith at third after Zach Spivey's line drive to right center was tracked down by UCF centerfielder Ray Alejo.

The Wildcats close the regular season with a three-game series at Savannah State Thursday. BCU must win at least two games to earn the No.3 seed in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's 2019 Tournament.

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