ORLANDO -- Following two days of virtually nonstop rain the UCF baseball team finally was able to hit the field for the home opener. What was supposed to be a full 3-game series on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday turned into a 2-game doubleheader on Sunday. While the bats continued to struggle, it was strong performances by starters Mark Michael and Paul Lubrano that led the Golden Knights to the sweep of Monmouth. UCF took the first game 3-0 and the second game 1-0 in extra innings.
UCF put 2 quick runs on the board in the 1st inning of Game One. After David Mann walked and a basehit by Jeremy Frost, Dee Brown squeezed Mann home from 3rd. Frost would later score on an error by the Monmouth shortstop when he overthrew a routine throw to first base. To give UCF its 3rd and final run, Wayne Summers led off the 5th inning with a double to right field, and after being sacrificed by David Mann to third base, Summers would score on a wild pitch by Monmouth starting pitcher Scott Zadina. Dee Brown led all UCF batters going 3-for-3 with 1 RBI.
Mark Michael pitched 6 shuout innings allowing only 4 hits while fanning 10, and Clint Wells, Bo Hall, and Nick Whidden closed out the game to insure the shutout victory. Whidden picked up his first save.
"Mark pitched good," Coach Bergman said. "Really outstanding. And I'm pleased with our bullpen because our bullpen has to be one of our strengths as well. They put the game together."
The second game was set for only 7 innings, and it really was a classic pitchers' duel. UCF's Paul Lubrano went up against Monmouth's Jim Carone and each took no-hitters halfway through the contest. Lubrano pitched the first 4.1 innings without allowing a hit or a walk, and Carone took a no-hitter into the 6th inning when David Mann singled up the middle with two outs.
The game would go into "extra innings" into the 8th scoreless. Lubrano, who only allowed 2 hits the entire game, continued to pitch into the 8th and retired the Monmouth batters in order. After Mike Myers led off the bottom half of the inning flying out to left field, Clay Timpner sailed a long shot over the right field wall to homer to give the Knights a 1-0 victory. It was just UCF's second hit of the game.
For Lubrano, it was his first win of the season and another great performance on the mound.
"Back to back," Bergman said. "A great game last weekend and another game today."
Coach Bergman said Jim Carone was a formidable pitcher, but he felt the bats in Game Two especially were not patient.
"It's a combination of both (strong pitching and the hitting slump), but you've got to give him credit," Bergman said. "He knows how to pitch. He beat Princeton last year, a team we struggled with in the regionals. He's an experienced player, but we were not patient at all at the plate in any way, shape, or form."
The two victories on Sunday gives UCF a 3-6 record, and now the Knights look ahead to hosting Charleston Southern on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lincoln Mincks is scheduled to start Tuesday's game and Burt Clark on Wednesday. Both games have starting times of 6:00 p.m.
Box Scores
UCF Baseball
Monmouth at UCF (Game 1)
Feb 24, 2002 at Orlando, Fla. (Jay Bergman Field)
Monmouth 0 (0-1)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
PILITOWSKI, Frank cf..... 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 -
KOENIG, Lance 2b......... 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 1 2 -
LAW, Jay rf.............. 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 -
CLANCY, Evan 1b.......... 4 0 0 0 0 1 12 0 2 -
GRASSO, Paul lf.......... 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 -
KELLY, Mike ss........... 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 0 -
ST. MARTINE, Mike c...... 3 0 1 0 1 0 4 2 0 -
MARSH, Brian 3b.......... 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 -
DAVIS, Tim dh............ 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 -
ROTELLA, Fran ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 -
ZADINA, Scott p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 -
PALMIERI, Andrew p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 -
Totals................... 32 0 5 0 2 15 24 13 7
UCF 3 (2-6)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
MANN, David dh........... 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
BEAR, Ryan ph........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
KRAGT, Nathan 3b......... 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 .364
FROST, Jeremy c.......... 3 1 1 0 1 0 15 0 0 .194
BROWN, Dee lf............ 3 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 .417
COX, George 1b........... 3 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 0 .143
TIMPNER, Clay cf......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .353
REICHARDT, Fritz ph/rf.. 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .222
MYERS, Mike ss........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 .120
MILLER, Adam 2b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 .207
SUMMERS, Wayne rf/cf..... 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .190
MICHAEL, Mark p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
WELLS, Clint p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
HALL, Bo p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
WHIDDEN, Nick p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
Totals................... 26 3 7 1 2 4 27 9 6
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Monmouth............ 000 000 000 - 0 5 2
UCF................. 200 010 00X - 3 7 0
-------------------------------------------
E - KOENIG(1); KELLY(1). LOB - Monmouth 7; UCF 6. 2B - KOENIG(1);
SUMMERS(3). SH - MANN(2); KRAGT 2(2); BROWN(1); COX(1). SB - TIMPNER(1). CS
- FROST(2).
Monmouth IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA
--------------------------------------------------------
ZADINA, Scott....... 6.0 5 3 2 1 3 19 25 71 -
PALMIERI, Andrew.... 2.0 2 0 0 1 1 7 8 38 -
UCF IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA
--------------------------------------------------------
MICHAEL, Mark....... 6.0 4 0 0 0 10 22 22 85 2.76
WELLS, Clint........ 0.1 0 0 0 2 1 1 3 16 0.00
HALL, Bo............ 1.2 1 0 0 0 4 6 6 28 9.00
WHIDDEN, Nick....... 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 9 1.42
Win - MICHAEL (1-1). Loss - ZADINA (0-1). Save - WHIDDEN (1).
WP - ZADINA(1); MICHAEL(1). Inherited runners/scored: HALL 2/0. Pitches/strikes:
ZADINA 71/47; PALMIERI 38/19; MICHAEL 85/56; WELLS 16/6; HALL 28/19; WHIDDEN 9/6.
Umpires - HP: Ken Ianotti 1B: Jim Pitisci 3B: Tim Pasch
Start: 11:00 AM Time: 2:11 Attendance:
Game: UCF08
UCF Baseball
Monmouth at UCF (Game 1) - Play-by-Play
Feb 24, 2002 at Orlando, Fla. (Jay Bergman Field)
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Monmouth............ 000 000 000 - 0 5 2
UCF................. 200 010 00X - 3 7 0
-------------------------------------------
Monmouth starters: 1/cf PILITOWSKI; 16/2b KOENIG; 21/rf LAW; 19/1b CLANCY;
42/lf GRASSO; 15/ss KELLY; 2/c ST. MARTINE; 9/3b MARSH; 26/dh DAVIS; 17/p
ZADINA;
UCF starters: 13/dh MANN; 6/3b KRAGT; 8/c FROST; 32/lf BROWN; 27/1b COX;
4/cf TIMPNER; 1/ss MYERS; 3/2b MILLER; 7/rf SUMMERS; 17/p MICHAEL;
Monmouth - inning 1
PILITOWSKI grounded out to ss (1-1). KOENIG grounded out to 3b (1-1). LAW
grounded out to 1b unassisted (2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 1
MANN walked (3-1). KRAGT grounded out to p, SAC, bunt (0-0); MANN
advanced to second. FROST singled to shortstop (1-2); MANN advanced to
third. BROWN grounded out to p, SAC, bunt, RBI; FROST advanced to second;
MANN scored. COX reached on a throwing error by ss, advanced to second
(0-0); FROST scored, unearned. TIMPNER fouled out to 3b. 2 runs, 1 hit, 1
error, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 2
CLANCY struck out looking (0-2). GRASSO grounded out to 2b (2-1). KELLY
struck out looking (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 2
MYERS grounded out to ss (1-1). MILLER fouled out to 1b (3-2). SUMMERS
flied out to lf (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 3
ST. MARTINE flied out to rf (1-1). MARSH singled to third base (2-2).
DAVIS struck out swinging (2-2). PILITOWSKI singled to third base (1-1);
MARSH advanced to second. KOENIG struck out looking (0-2). 0 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UCF - inning 3
MANN singled to third base, bunt (2-1). KRAGT grounded out to p, SAC,
bunt (0-0); MANN advanced to second. FROST popped up to 2b (0-0). BROWN
singled to third base (2-0); MANN advanced to third, out at home ss to c.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 4
LAW struck out swinging (2-2). CLANCY grounded out to 2b (0-1). GRASSO
struck out looking (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 4
COX popped up to ss (1-2). TIMPNER reached on an error by 2b (1-1).
TIMPNER stole second. MYERS struck out swinging (1-2). MILLER flied out
to cf (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 5
KELLY struck out looking (1-2). ST. MARTINE singled up the middle (1-0).
MARSH struck out looking (0-2). DAVIS struck out swinging (2-2). 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UCF - inning 5
SUMMERS doubled to right field (1-1). MANN grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt
(1-1); SUMMERS advanced to third. SUMMERS scored, scored on a wild pitch.
KRAGT struck out looking (3-2). FROST lined out to lf (0-2). 1 run, 1
hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 6
PILITOWSKI grounded out to 3b (1-1). KOENIG doubled to right field (0-0).
LAW struck out looking (2-2). KOENIG advanced to third on a wild pitch.
CLANCY grounded out to 2b (3-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UCF - inning 6
BROWN singled to center field (2-0). COX grounded out to p, SAC, bunt
(0-0); BROWN advanced to second. TIMPNER struck out swinging, out at
first c to 1b (1-2). MYERS grounded out to 3b (0-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 7
WELLS to p for MICHAEL. GRASSO struck out swinging (2-2). KELLY walked
(3-1). ST. MARTINE walked (3-2); KELLY advanced to second. HALL to p for
WELLS. MARSH struck out looking (2-2). ROTELLA pinch hit for DAVIS.
ROTELLA struck out looking (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UCF - inning 7
PALMIERI to p for ZADINA. MILLER grounded out to p (3-2). SUMMERS
grounded out to 2b (3-2). BEAR pinch hit for MANN. BEAR flied out to lf
(1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 8
PILITOWSKI singled to left center (0-2). KOENIG struck out looking (1-2).
LAW struck out looking (2-2). CLANCY grounded out to p (1-1). 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UCF - inning 8
KRAGT grounded out to ss (2-0). FROST walked (3-2). FROST out at second c
to ss, caught stealing. BROWN singled up the middle (2-2). COX singled
through the left side (3-1); BROWN advanced to second. REICHARDT pinch
hit for TIMPNER. REICHARDT struck out swinging (1-2). 0 runs, 2 hits, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 9
REICHARDT to rf. SUMMERS to cf. WHIDDEN to p for HALL. GRASSO flied out
to cf (1-2). KELLY grounded out to 2b (1-1). ST. MARTINE grounded out to
2b (1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF Baseball
Monmouth at UCF (Game 2)
Feb 24, 2002 at Orlando, Fla. (Jay Bergman Field)
Monmouth 0 (0-2)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
PILITOWSKI, Frank cf..... 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 .429
KOENIG, Lance 2b......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 .143
LAW, Jay rf.............. 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 .000
CLANCY, Evan 1b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 .000
GRASSO, Paul lf.......... 3 0 1 0 0 1 8 0 0 .143
KELLY, Mike ss........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 .000
ST. MARTINE, Mike c...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 .167
MARSH, Brian 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .200
ROTELLA, Fran dh......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
CARONE, Jim p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
Totals................... 24 0 2 0 1 3 22 4 1
UCF 1 (3-6)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
MANN, David dh........... 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .308
HANSON, Ty 3b............ 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 .211
BROWN, Dee lf............ 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .370
COX, George c............ 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 .118
MILLER, Adam 2b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 .194
SCHULTE, Blaine ph...... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .000
HALL, Bo 2b............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
MYERS, Mike ss........... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 .107
FROST, Jeremy cf......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
TIMPNER, Clay cf........ 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .389
REICHARDT, Fritz 1b...... 2 0 0 0 0 0 13 3 0 .182
SUMMERS, Wayne rf........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .174
LUBRANO, Paul p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 -
Totals................... 24 1 2 1 1 2 24 17 2
Score by Innings R H E
------------------------------------------
Monmouth............ 000 000 00 - 0 2 0
UCF................. 000 000 01 - 1 2 0
------------------------------------------
Note: 1 out, 0 runners LOB when the game ended.
LOB - Monmouth 1; UCF 2. 2B - PILITOWSKI(1). HR - TIMPNER(2).
Monmouth IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA
--------------------------------------------------------
CARONE, Jim......... 7.1 2 1 1 1 2 24 25 76 -
UCF IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA
--------------------------------------------------------
LUBRANO, Paul....... 8.0 2 0 0 1 3 24 25 94 1.47
Win - LUBRANO (1-0). Loss - CARONE (0-1). Save - None.
Inherited runners/scored: None. Pitches/strikes: CARONE 76/47; LUBRANO 94/64.
Umpires - HP: Jim Pitisci 1B: Tim Pasch 3B: Ken Ianotti
Start: 1:45 PM Time: 1:36 Attendance: 599
Game: UCF09
UCF Baseball
Monmouth at UCF (Game 2) - Play-by-Play
Feb 24, 2002 at Orlando, Fla. (Jay Bergman Field)
Score by Innings R H E
------------------------------------------
Monmouth............ 000 000 00 - 0 2 0
UCF................. 000 000 01 - 1 2 0
------------------------------------------
Monmouth starters: 1/cf PILITOWSKI; 16/2b KOENIG; 21/rf LAW; 19/1b CLANCY;
42/lf GRASSO; 15/ss KELLY; 2/c ST. MARTINE; 9/3b MARSH; 8/dh ROTELLA;
11/p CARONE;
UCF starters: 13/dh MANN; 29/3b HANSON; 32/lf BROWN; 27/c COX; 3/2b MILLER;
1/ss MYERS; 8/cf FROST; 25/1b REICHARDT; 7/rf SUMMERS; 5/p LUBRANO;
Monmouth - inning 1
PILITOWSKI out at first 1b to p (1-2). KOENIG flied out to rf (3-2). LAW
grounded out to 2b (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 1
MANN walked (3-2). HANSON grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0); MANN
advanced to second. BROWN grounded out to 3b (0-1). COX flied out to lf
(2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 2
CLANCY grounded out to 3b (1-2). GRASSO struck out (1-2). KELLY grounded
out to p (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 2
MILLER fouled out to c (0-0). MYERS grounded out to 3b (1-0). FROST flied
out to cf (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 3
ST. MARTINE grounded out to 2b (3-1). MARSH popped up to ss (0-2).
ROTELLA grounded out to 2b (2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 3
REICHARDT grounded out to ss (2-0). SUMMERS flied out to lf (1-0). MANN
struck out looking (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 4
PILITOWSKI grounded out to 2b (2-2). KOENIG grounded out to p (2-2). LAW
out at first 1b to p (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 4
HANSON fouled out to lf (1-1). BROWN flied out to lf (0-1). COX grounded
out to 2b (2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 5
CLANCY grounded out to ss (2-0). GRASSO singled through the right side
(1-2). KELLY struck out looking (0-2). ST. MARTINE reached on a fielder's
choice (1-1); GRASSO out at second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
UCF - inning 5
MILLER flied out to cf (2-2). MYERS popped up to 2b (0-2). FROST flied
out to lf (1-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 6
MARSH grounded out to p (2-2). ROTELLA grounded out to ss (1-2).
PILITOWSKI doubled to center field (0-1). PILITOWSKI out at second p to
ss, picked off. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 6
REICHARDT lined out to lf (0-0). SUMMERS popped up to 2b (1-2). MANN
singled up the middle (1-1). HANSON flied out to cf (2-0). 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 7
KOENIG grounded out to p, bunt (0-0). LAW walked (3-1). LAW picked off,
out at second p to 1b to ss. CLANCY struck out looking (0-2). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 7
BROWN flied out to rf down the rf line (1-0). COX lined out to lf (2-1).
SCHULTE pinch hit for MILLER. SCHULTE struck out looking (0-2). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 8
HALL to 2b for SCHULTE. TIMPNER to cf for FROST. GRASSO flied out to cf
(0-0). KELLY grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-2). ST. MARTINE grounded
out to 1b unassisted (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UCF - inning 8
MYERS flied out to lf (1-1). TIMPNER homered to right field, RBI (1-0). 1
run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.