ORLANDO – Jacksonville State rallied from a 7-4 deficit in the sixth inning with four runs in the sixth to defeat UCF 8-7 Saturday and win the series two games to one. The Golden Knights won the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader 3-1 behind a complete game by starting pitcher Mark Michael. Jacksonville State improved to 17-13 overall and 9-6 in the Atlantic Sun while UCF dropped to 20-10 on the year and 5-4 in the conference.
In the day’s first game, Michael (5-1) was sensational in limiting the Gamecocks to just one run on seven hits with two strikeouts. The complete game was the second straight for Michael making him the first UCF player since Justin Pope to throw two consecutive complete games. Pope tossed two straight complete games vs. Florida Atlantic and Jacksonville during the 2001 season.
Clay Timpner provided all of the offense for the Golden Knights in game one with a 1-for-2 performance including three RBI.
Allen Buckley tossed a complete game for the Gamecocks in a losing effort. Buckley (1-1) yielded eight hits and just one earned run in 6.0 innings of work.
In the day’s second game, JSU sprinted out to a 4-0 lead before UCF scored five unearned runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-4 lead. The Golden Knights increased the lead with two fifth inning runs to take a 7-4 advantage into the sixth inning.
UCF reliever Von David Stertzbach ran into trouble in the sixth when Danny Civello drilled a two-run home run to left field. The home run cut the lead to 7-6 as JSU pounded three homers on the day.
Later in the sixth, Evan Conley singled to right center to score Brent Johnson tying the game at seven. Johnson singled to reach first base and advanced two bases on a wild pitch by Stertzbach before coming home to score on Conley’s single.
Pinch hitter Clint Carroll drove in Conley with a double to right field to secure the game-winning run for Jacksonville State.
Stertzbach surrendered four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work to fall to 1-2 on the year. JSU reliever Jase Kreitner (2-2) pitched just 2/3 of an inning for the win while Josh Forrest tossed two scoreless innings for his third save.
JSU’s Bobby Hicks finished 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored.
Dee Brown finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI for the Golden Knights while Ryan Bear ended his hitting streak at 19 games finishing 0-for-3 with a walk.
The Golden Knights return to action Tuesday, April 1 at rival South Florida. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. in Tampa.
Baseball Splits With Jacksonville State
Share