UCF Baseball Avoids Sweep with Walk-Off Win Over USF

Knights move to 5-5 on the season after close victory in "War on I-4" rivalry game.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The University of Central Florida baseball team salvaged a win in their weekend series against in-state rival South Florida, as Zak Skinner delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Knights a 2-1 victory on Sunday. The win moves UCF to 5-5 on the season, showing a team that has relied heavily on its pitching staff while the offense continues to find its rhythm.

Why it matters

The "War on I-4" rivalry between UCF and USF is one of the most intense in college baseball, and this weekend series was an important early-season test for both teams. While UCF avoided the sweep, their 5-5 start to the season indicates they have room for improvement, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

The details

In the rubber match of the three-game series, the game was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. UCF's Zak Skinner then came through with a walk-off single to score the winning run and give the Knights the victory. The close win showed the strength of UCF's pitching staff, which has kept them in games despite an offense that has yet to fully click.

  • The series between UCF and USF took place over the weekend of March 1-3, 2026.
  • The walk-off win for UCF occurred on Sunday, March 3, 2026.

The players

Zak Skinner

A UCF baseball player who delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Knights a 2-1 victory over their in-state rivals.

University of Central Florida (UCF)

The college baseball team that won the series finale against the University of South Florida to move to 5-5 on the season.

University of South Florida (USF)

The in-state rival of UCF that competed in the "War on I-4" baseball series over the weekend.

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What they’re saying

“Zak really came through for us in a big spot. We needed that win to get back to .500 and this is a good confidence boost for the team.”

— Greg Lovelady, UCF Baseball Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

UCF will look to build on this win as they continue their conference schedule, while USF will aim to rebound from the series loss.

The takeaway

Despite their 5-5 start, UCF's ability to win a close game against their rival shows the team's resilience and the strength of their pitching staff. However, the Knights will need to find more consistency on offense to compete at a high level throughout the season.