Rich Wallace is only left to wonder what could have been.

UCF (32-23) fell short in the NCAA Regionals after losing to Auburn, 9-3, in an elimination game last Sunday. It was the 14th trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Knights and their second appearance since Wallace took over the program in 2024.

“The stuff they went through and the adversity they went through, they showed the UCF toughness. The way they went about it, I’m proud of the way they played and competed all year,” Wallace said of his team’s performance during a media session Friday.

What remains elusive is a trip to the Super Regionals, something the Knights haven’t accomplished in the more than 52-year history of the program.

“Getting through the regional with pitching depth is the biggest part. That’s why I thought we had enough pitching depth when we started the year to pitch our way through the regional. It didn’t end up being that way,” said Wallace.

The Knights struggled with injuries, mostly on the pitching staff, where starters Matt Sauser, Braden Smith (concussion) and Joey Trombley (elbow), along with reliever Michael Gillen (elbow), all missed time due to injuries.

Still, it was a rebound year for UCF, which went from missing the postseason in the 2024-25 season to finishing third in the Big 12 standings with a school-record 19 wins in conference play. The Knights also won four of their five Big 12 road series this season.

Despite being bounced from the regional, Wallace considers this season a success.

“I’m not happy with it, not satisfied with it, but yes, it was a success, especially after what we had to deal with,” he said.

The focus now is on the offseason, which presents its own set of challenges.

The roster is sure to undergo massive changes, particularly with more than a dozen players exhausting their eligibility this season, including starters such as outfielders DeAmez Ross, John Smith III, catcher Zak Skinner, first baseman Landon Moran, third baseman Javier Crespo and pitchers Kevin Schoneboom and Kris Sosnowski.

“We have to basically replace the whole offense, which is not that dissimilar to last year,” said Wallace.

The 30-day transfer portal window opened June 1 and runs through the end of the month.

So far, a trio of players has entered the portal, led by freshman shortstop Jordan Lodise, who started 54 games for the Knights, along with freshman infielders Kiernan O’Neill and Elijah Buffaloe.

Meanwhile, UCF has already secured several verbal commitments led by second baseman Cooper Clapp (Middle Tennessee), first baseman Collin Priest (Clemson) and pitchers Talan Bell (Clemson) and Andrew Lepine (Stetson).

UCF football players get a behind-the-scenes look at EA Sports

Then there is the Major League Baseball Draft, which takes place July 11-13.

The Knights have several players who could be selected in the three-day event, including outfielder Andrew Williamson and right-handed pitcher Evan Jones.

“I don’t think there’s any way that all 30 teams could screw that up and not take him where he should be taken,” Wallace said of Williamson, a junior from St. Petersburg. “I think Evan Jones will (get selected). I don’t think 30 teams can mess that one up either.

“Then we’ll see about the rest of those draft-eligible guys. It’s 50/50, probably with most of them.”

UCF has 10 verbal commitments in its 2026-27 recruiting class, but Wallace knows that until they sign with the school in August, anything can happen.

“You’re really hoping to keep all those guys in that class,” said Wallace. “It’s a huge class, but we really like the talent in that class.”

While there is plenty of construction on the roster, there are also upgrades underway at John Euilano Park.

Renovations to the team’s new player development facility should be completed by August.

“We have a brand new weight room coming in and a brand new pitching lab,” said Wallace. “With us being in Orlando and not having a place to pitch when it rains — or lightning — seems counterproductive toward player development of our pitchers. The new weight room is huge. It gives us the ability to lift as a whole team and not have to do it in four or five groups.”

The facility will house some of the team’s analytics equipment and provide much-needed room for staff members.

“We got seven staff members sharing, basically, two offices right now, so it will allow them to spread out, and that will make it a little more productive,” he added.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com