TAMPA – Freshman left-handed pitcher Jon Kio tossed three shutout innings for his first career win to lead host South Florida past UCF 4-0 Tuesday evening in Tampa. Kio allowed two hits and struck out two to even his record at 1-1 on the year.
Five South Florida pitchers limited the Golden Knights to four hits as UCF stranded 10 runners on the night. With the loss, UCF dropped to 22-13 overall while South Florida improved to 21-12.
The Bulls scored first with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jeff Baisley started the frame with a double to right center and advanced to third on the play on a fielding error by UCF center fielder Clay Timpner. After a walk to Myron Leslie, USF catcher Devin Ivany drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Ronnie Handley drove in a run with a bloop single to right giving the Bulls a 2-0 lead.
UCF starting pitcher Matt Fox (0-2) failed to get out of the third, lasting just 2.2 innings. Fox walked five and yielded three hits in his second career start.
South Florida extended its lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning as Leslie drove in two runs with a double to the gap in left center.
UCF loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but South Florida reliever Tim Mattison got out of the jam without allowing a run. Mattison went through the heart of UCF’s order in Timpner, Ryan Bear and Dee Brown to get out of the bases loaded situation.
The Golden Knights left the bases loaded again in the seventh, but failed to score a run as Nathan Kragt fouled out to first to end the inning.
UCF returns to the diamond Friday in Atlantic Sun action at Belmont. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST in Nashville.
South Florida Stops UCF 4-0
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