SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Clay Timpner delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning but it was not enough as No.6 Notre Dame held on for a 3-2 victory over No. 20 UCF Wednesday evening at Frank Eck Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
With the loss, UCF dropped to 39-14 while Notre Dame improved to 44-9. The Golden Knights out-hit Notre Dame 7-4, but lost for just the third time all season when they out-hit the opponent (34-3). UCF limited Notre Dame to just four hits on the night.
Both teams started the first inning with a double, but only Notre Dame was able to capitalize on the early two-bagger. The Fighting Irish grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as Matt Macri doubled and later scored.
A pair of walks haunted UCF starter Mike Billek in the third as the Fighting Irish scored two runs. Matt Bransfield delivered a RBI single just off the outstretched glove of Chandler Rose at shortstop and Javi Sanchez drove in Steve Sollmann to give Notre Dame a 3-0 lead. Both runners that scored in the inning reached base via a walk.
Billek (0-1) turned in a strong performance as he retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced, including nine straight over the final three innings. The sophomore struck out four and walked three in 6.0 innings of work.
The UCF bats remained quiet until the ninth. UCF loaded the bases with no outs as Drake Wade and Chandler Rose hit back-to-back singles and Dave Lambert walked. Notre Dame closer Ryan Doherty got the next two batters out, but Timpner delivered a two-run single through the left side to close the gap to 3-2.
In the next at bat, Matt Ray looked to end the game with a groundout to second, but Sollmann booted the ball and allowed Ray to reach first base. On the play, pinch runner David Mann was on second base and rounded third too far and was caught in a run down between third base and home plate to end the game.
Timpner led UCF with three hits and two RBI while Wade also had two hits for the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights look to get back on track Friday at Georgia State. Matt Fox (11-2) gets the start as the Golden Knights look to win the A-Sun Regular Season Title outright. UCF has already locked up the No. 1 seed in next week’s A-Sun Tournament in DeLand.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Georgia State with no live radio or internet broadcasts. UCFathletics.com will provide live stats for all three games of the Georgia State series.
Game Notes: Sophomore pitcher Mike Billek tied a career-high with 6.0 innings pitched … UCF finished the series 3-for-25 (.120) with runners on base and 1-for-18 (.056) with runners in scoring position … UCF held Notre Dame to a .143 (2-for-14) average with runners in scoring position for the series … UCF trails the all-time series 3-2 to Notre Dame … The Fighting Irish are scheduled to return to Orlando for a two-game series in 2005 … UCF is 4-7 vs. ranked teams on the year … UCF avoided back-to-back shutouts with two runs in the ninth … the last time UCF was shutout in back-to-back games was in 1993 … Drake Wade (two hits) recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season … UCF lost for just the third time in 2004 (34-3) when it totaled more hits than the opponent … Clay Timpner recorded his team-best 21st multi-hit game of the year (sixth three-hit game).
#6 Notre Dame Escapes With 3-2 Win Over #20 UCF
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