ORLANDO – Ryan Bear finished 1-for-2 with a two-run home run to lead UCF past Columbia 7-4 Tuesday afternoon at Jay Bergman Field. Bear extended his hitting streak to 13 games with the homer as UCF moved to 16-7 on the year while Columbia dropped to 4-6.
After a RBI-double by Mike Baxter gave Columbia a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Bear answered for UCF with his two-run home run to right-center field. The long ball was Bear’s second of the season as it bounced off the lower portion of the scoreboard.
The Golden Knights increased their advantage to 3-1 in the third on a RBI-groundout by Clay Timpner.
The Lions answered with one run in the sixth on a wild pitch by UCF starter Mike Billek. Billek pitched well for the Golden Knights as he raised his record to 2-0 on the year. The freshman right-hander tied a career-high with 6.0 innings pitched. Billek struck out six and walked just one for the victors.
UCF added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Rich Wallace doubled down the left field line to score Scott Williams.
Columbia scored one run in the seventh to slice the deficit to 4-3, but UCF scored three runs in the home half of the seventh to put the game away. After P.J. Lehmann scored on a balk, Williams delivered a two-run single to right field to give UCF a 7-3 advantage.
The Lions scored once in the ninth to close out the scoring at 7-4.
UCF reliever Andrew Daly pitched the game’s final three innings for his second save of the season. Columbia starter Jessan Grant pitched 7.0 innings in defeat, allowing all seven runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.
In addition to his home run, Bear scored two runs and was hit twice. A pitch also hit Nathan Kragt for the ninth time this season to move him into a tie for 8th place on the single-season hit by pitch chart at UCF.
Williams was also 1-for-1 with two RBI and a walk for the Golden Knights after entering the game for the injured Dave Lambert.
The Golden Knights return to action Wednesday at 3 p.m. vs. Florida A&M; in Tallahassee.
Note:There will be no live stats available for UCF's game at Florida A&M; Wednesday. FAMU does not have an available phone line in its press box.