ORLANDO – UCF left fielder David Mann went 4-for-5 including the game-winning RBI single in the 11th inning to lead UCF past Monmouth 3-2 on a rainy Friday night at Jay Bergman Field. The Golden Knights came back from a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the eighth and the game-winner in the 11th to improve to 6-4 on the year. Monmouth dropped to 0-1 with the loss.
The UCF pitching staff was dominant, finishing with 16 strikeouts on the night. The school record for strikeouts at UCF is 18, set last March 15, 1988 vs. Bradley.
UCF freshman reliever Kyle Bono improved to 2-0 on the year by pitching the final 0.2 innings for the win. Bono tallied both of his outs via the strikeout.
Monmouth scored early with two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Hawks got an RBI-single by Lance Koenig and scored an unearned run in the inning to go ahead early.
Monmouth starter Jim Carone kept the UCF bats quiet by throwing seven innings allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts.
The Golden Knights finally tied the game at two in the eighth on a clutch, two-out, two-RBI single by Dee Brown. With the bases loaded, Brown singled to right field to tie the game.
The UCF bullpen was sensational the entire game. Freshman Mike Billek tossed a career-high 4.2 innings with a personal-best eight strikeouts. The eight punch outs were a season-high by a UCF reliever. Billek did not allow a run while only surrendering one hit in his 4.2 innings of work. Billek relieved UCF starter Von David Stertzbach, who pitched 5.2 innings with six strikeouts and one earned run allowed.
In the 11th, Nathan Kragt got things started with a one-out double down the left field line. After a failed bunt attempt by Jon Cooper, Mann drilled a two-out single to center to score the game-winning run. With the two-out RBI, the Golden Knights now have 15 two-out RBI in 10 games this season.
Monmouth reliever Mike Kelly (0-1) took the loss after tossing 3.1 innings. Kelly allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts for the Hawks. Mike St. Martine led Monmouth with three hits in the loss.
The two teams continue the series Saturday with two, nine-inning games. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.
Baseball Slips Past Monmouth In 11 Innings, 3-2
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