ORLANDO – Kyle Bono tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout and Darren Newlin came within one out of a no-hitter in leading No. 26 UCF to a doubleheader and series sweep of Belmont Saturday afternoon at Jay Bergman Field. Bono pitched his fourth complete-game shutout of the season to defeat the Bruins 3-0 in game one. Newlin was just one out away from a no-hitter in game two and finished with a one-hitter in UCF’s 2-0 game two victory.
With the pair of wins, UCF improved to 32-8 overall and 17-4 in the A-Sun. Belmont dropped to 23-14 overall and 9-9 in the conference. With the three shutouts over Belmont, it marked the first time in school history that UCF has shutout an A-Sun opponent in a three-game series.
Belmont had just five hits in three games without scoring a run.
In game one, Bono was in control all day long, finishing with six strikeouts and one walk. UCF scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings for all of the run support Bono would need. The win raised Bono’s record to a perfect 6-0 on the year.
Jon Cooper broke up the scoreless tie in the fourth with an infield RBI-single to score Chandler Rose.
In the fifth, Rose delivered a sacrifice fly to score Dee Brown. The Golden Knights finished their scoring in the sixth with a RBI-single by Matt Ray to give UCF a 3-0 lead.
UCF outhit Belmont 11-2 in the game one win.
In game two, Newlin was masterful in his first career start. The junior right-hander from Tallahassee cruised through the Belmont lineup, holding the Bruins to just one hit with four strikeouts. With two outs in the seventh, Belmont’s John Brummett hit a single over the outstretched glove of Matt Ray at second base to spoil the no-hit bid.
Newlin improved to 2-0 after pitching a career-high 7.0 innings in the win. Newlin is the first UCF pitcher to throw a one-hitter since Justin Pope fired a one-hitter vs. Florida Atlantic on March 17, 2001.
Ray drove in a run and scored a run for the victors while Brown drove in a run for UCF’s two runs in the game two victory.
The Golden Knights are back in action Tuesday evening vs. USF at Jay Bergman Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. with freshman Taylor Meier making the start vs. the Bulls. The game will be broadcast live on the UCF ISP Sports Network (740-AM The Team) with the pregame show starting at 6:45 p.m.