JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Mark Michael provided UCF with another superb outing Saturday afternoon in game one of the Knights double header with Jacksonville State. Michael threw six innings of one run ball, giving up only three hits and fanning eight Gamecocks in the 7-1 victory. UCF was unable to stay perfect in Atlantic Sun play, dropping game two 6-5, when Andrew Tarver took Nick Whidden deep for a walk-off homerun. With one swing of the bat Jacksonville State ended its nine game drought against the Knights.
The Golden Knights jumped out on top early in game one scoring in three of the first four innings, while Michael mowed down the first 13 batters he faced. The Knights scored two in the first frame, high-lighted by a RBI double to left center by Mike Myers, bringing in David Mann. Mann has earned himself a spot as the everyday DH with his scorching hot bat. The Georgia native was 5-for-6 with three runs scored and a RBI in the lead-off spot, for the day.
The Knights assured themselves a victory with three runs in the seventh inning, making the score 7-1. Zach Sutton pitched a perfect seventh striking out the side and improving the Knights to 5-0 in the Atlantic Sun.
UCF’s perfect conference record would be bruised in game two as Jacksonville State used the home field advantage to win the game in seventh. All 11 runs in the game were scored in the third and seventh inning. UCF put the score board to use first, scoring in the top of the third. Mann duplicated his lead-off single from the first inning and would eventually come around to score on a Clay Timpner single through the left side of the infield. Timpner continued his impressive freshman campaign, going 5-for-7 on the day with three RBI’s, two runs scored and a walk. Timpner currently leads the team in seven offensive categories.
Jacksonville State jumped on Lincoln Mincks in the third to retake the lead. The Gamecocks scored four runs, none of which were earned, on one hit, while taking advantage of two UCF infield throwing errors. Mincks closed the door for next 2.2 innings of work, scattering four hits before Clint Wells relieved him in the sixth. Wells came in and got the strike out to end the inning and send the Knights up to bat for the last time, down by three.
The Knights scored four runs on four hits in the seventh to claim a 5-4 lead. An error, a fielder’s choice and a Mann bunt single gave UCF men on first and second with one out. Myers knocked in his third RBI of the day with a single to left field, which was followed by the Knights second out of the inning. It was time for the famous two-out rally and who else but Timpner would be the man at the plate. He singled through the right side to add to his heroics of the night before, driving in two and tying the game. Timpner would eventually come around and score the go ahead run on a Rich Wallace single down the right-field line.
The Knights were unable to hold on when Whidden gave up a one out walk, which was followed by a two-run shot to end the game.
UCF now stand at 16-12 overall and 5-1 in the A-Sun. The Knights will take to the field next on Tuesday, March 26, when they play Bethune-Cookman for the last time this season. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. at jay Bergman Field.