ORLANDO – Florida International used a four-run eighth inning to propel the Golden Panthers to an 8-7 victory over UCF in the Golden Knights’ season opener Saturday at Jay Bergman Field. The loss dropped UCF to 0-1 on the year while FIU improved to 6-1.
The eighth-largest crowd in UCF history, 1,159 fans, were in attendance.
With the game tied at four in the eighth inning, FIU got a bloop two-out, two-RBI single off the bat of Luis Rivera into centerfield to give FIU the lead for good at 6-4. Later in the inning, Bryan Pullin singled through the right side to score two and give FIU an 8-4 advantage.
Rivera had an outstanding game, finishing 2-for-3 with a run and four RBI. Pullin also knocked in three runs for the victors.
The Golden Knights almost made the comeback complete in the ninth inning as they scored three runs and left the winning run on base. The rally started as three UCF players were hit by a pitch including Rich Wallace, which forced in David Mann to score and cut the lead to 8-5. With the bases still loaded, Taylor Cobb laced a two-run single to centerfield to slice the lead to 8-7. With runners on first and second, Ryan Bear drilled a line drive to shortstop, but FIU’s Rivera made the play for the game-winning force out.
Carlos Sanchez (2-0) earned the win for FIU by tossing 1.2 innings with a strikeout. Edgar Ramirez registered his third save of the year while UCF’s Andrew Daly (0-1) was saddled with the loss.
Lost in the game was the strong season debut by UCF starting pitcher Von David Stertzbach. Stertzbach tossed 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts.
Offensively for UCF, Mann finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored while Cobb was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI.
UCF returns to action Sunday in the series finale vs. FIU at 1 p.m. Mark Michael will get the start for the Golden Knights while Joshua Banks is scheduled to start for FIU.