TROY, Ala. – Mark Michael pitched six strong innings with a season-high eight strikeouts to lead UCF (28-21, 11-12 A-Sun) past Troy State 7-2 (25-22, 14-12) in game two of a doubleheader Saturday evening in Troy, Ala. The host Trojans won the opener Saturday 8-7. The UCF offense totaled 28 hits in the two games Saturday vs. the Trojans.
In game one, UCF out hit the Trojans 15-9, but stranded 11 runners on base in the loss. The Golden Knights are now 1-7 this season in one-run games in the conference. The win for Troy State also snapped a 10-game losing skid vs. UCF.
In the nightcap, the Golden Knights totaled 13 hits en route to the five-run victory. Drew Butera launched his first career home run and drove in five runs in the win for UCF in game two.
Freshman designated hitter Dave Lambert got UCF on the scoreboard first with a solo home run to left-center field. Both of Lambert’s home runs this season have come vs. A-Sun competition. Lambert had a career day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with three RBI.
Brian Lipman answered right back with a solo home run of his own in the home half of the second inning to tie the contest at one.
The Golden Knights erupted for four runs on four singles and a Troy State error in the third inning. UCF started the inning with three consecutive singles by David Mann, Nathan Kragt and Clay Timpner. With one out, Dee Brown drove in a run with a RBI after reaching base on a fielding error by Troy State second baseman Casey O’Quinn. Lambert continued his hot hitting by drilling a two-run single to right, increasing the lead to 4-1. Rich Wallace ended the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to center, giving UCF a 5-1 advantage.
Troy State used the long ball again in the third inning as the Trojans blasted two homers to take the lead, 6-5. Wade Miller launched a three-run shot to right-center field and Chad Howard drilled a two-run home run to left-center to put the Trojans in the lead for the first time.
Troy State scored two runs in the fifth on the Trojans’ fourth home run of the game as Howard tagged his second home run on the day to increase the TSU lead to 8-5.
Kragt drove in a run with his second hit of the game in the sixth with a RBI-single to left-center, cutting the deficit to 8-6. Timpner followed with his third single of the contest to put runners on first and second base with two outs. Bear followed with UCF’s third consecutive single of the inning, scoring Kragt, to pull UCF to within one at 8-7. The RBI-single for Bear came on an 0-2 count.
Troy State reliever Zach Watson then plunked Dee Brown to load the bases. Pinch hitter Drew Butera came up with the bases loaded and two outs, but Troy State third baseman Brian Lipman made a beautiful play to throw out Butera at first base to end the threat.
UCF loaded the bases in the seventh with just one out. Pinch hitter Jon Cooper singled down the right field line and fellow pinch hitter Burt Clark walked. Mann followed Clark with a single to center field, just over the glove of shortstop Trent Cox, to load the bases. Troy State reliever Michael Gallops forced Kragt into a pop out to second base for the second out and struck out Timpner to end the game.
UCF starting pitcher Von David Stertzbach (3-5) entered the game allowing just two home runs in 68.2 innings pitched this season. Stertzbach allowed all eight runs in a losing effort while Wikstrom improved to 5-2 with the win for Troy State.
In game two, UCF started out the same way, building a 5-1 lead this time through 2.5 innings. UCF scored two runs in the second while Troy State countered with one run before the Golden Knights put up a three-spot in the third.
Timpner started the three-run frame with a RBI-single down the left field line to give the Golden Knights a 3-1 lead. Troy State then issued an intentional walk to Lambert to load the bases. Lambert was a perfect 4-for-4 in the series before the free pass to load the bases for Butera. The freshman catcher promptly lined a double down the left field line, scoring two, before Lambert was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with UCF ahead 5-1.
Troy State sliced the lead to three at 5-2 in the fourth on a RBI-single off the bat of Brad Sheffield.
In the seventh, Butera added two important insurance runs with his first collegiate home run to left field. The two-run homer increased the UCF lead to 7-2 as Butera finished the game 2-for-3 with a career-best five RBI.
Michael (7-4) kept the lead intact as he got stronger as the game moved along. The senior right-hander struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings to earn his team-leading seventh win this season.
Matt Fox will start game three of the series for UCF on the mound Sunday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. EST at Riddle-Pace Field.
