JACKSONVILLE -- Darren Truty threw 7.1 innings of five hit baseball in what was another impressive outing for a Jacksonville starter. Truty was responsible for UCF’s three runs, but was good enough to combine with Kris Regas for a 4-3 Jacksonville victory. Phil Nover showed that a season with injury problems has not hurt his swing, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Juan Menendez claimed two of JU’s RBI’s.
UCF did manage to get at Truty in the first inning and open the scoring, taking advantage of a leadoff walk to David Mann. Mann made his way to third by way of Mike Myers single and fielders choice that went to second for the out. Clay Timpner sent the ball deep enough to center field for Mann to scurry home.
JU would not be behind for long though as it scored in it’s half of the first on three hits, with Menendez singling up the middle, plating Nover. The Dolphins added more in the third when they busted out with three runs, sending eight men to the plate. The Dolphins banged three doubles into the outfield gaps and used a sac fly by Menendez, for his second RBI of the game to go up 4-1.
Mark Michael started the fourth, but was only able to get one out before Von David Stertzbach replaced him. Nover welcomed Stertzbach to the game with his third hit, but the next two men went down on strikes, stranding men on first and second and preventing further damage. Both pitchers mowed down the opposing hitters, surrendering a random hit or walk until the seventh inning when the Knights made the score 4-2. With two outs in the inning Adam Miller laid down a bunt to get the rally going and JU contributed with three infield errors. Miller would score the innings run, but UCF left its fifth and sixth men on base when Myers hit a chopper to short that he could not beat out.
UCF continued to whittle away at the JU lead in the eighth when they posted one the last run of the game. Dee Brown singled through the middle of the infield to extend his hitting streak to thirteen games and Timpner followed with a beautifully placed bunt down the third base line. Rich Wallace sacrificed the runners over, forcing Truty from the game. With the lefty Regas on the mound UCF went to the bench and sent Wayne Summers to the plate to pinch-hit. Summers earned the RBI with a slow roller to short, but also made the second out of the inning. The inning ended with a man on third when Miller tried to put down another bunt single but was unsuccessful.
Stertzbach came out and threw the eighth giving him another brilliant appearance in long relief for the Knights. UCF was unable to give him the lead and take the loss away from Michael (5-3), but he did go 4.2 innings, giving up five hits, no runs and fanning six.
The Golden Knights take on the Dolphins twice tomorrow, when they play their traditional Saturday afternoon double header, starting at 1:00 p.m. Taylor Cobb will make his first appearance for UCF as starter in game one at Alexander Breast Field. Bryan Williams and his 0.22 ERA, which is tops in the nation, will throw against him. Game two will have right hander Lincoln Mincks up against Ryan Courson, who also throws from the right hand side of the mound.
