Feb. 12, 2005
ORLANDO - No. 24 UCF committed five errors and issued six walks in a 9-6 loss to Le Moyne Saturday afternoon in the series finale at Jay Bergman Field. The Dolphins avoided the series sweep by rallying from a 6-3 deficit in the sixth inning with four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh for the win.
"I wish we were playing tomorrow," stated UCF head coach Jay Bergman. "Our mental approach to the game was just terrible today. It was not a good day for us and you have to give Le Moyne credit, they went out there and hustled and made plays happen. We played back on our heels all day and we got our buts beat and we deserved it."
The loss drops UCF to 5-1 on the season while Le Moyne (1-2) earned its first victory of 2005.
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when the Dolphins scored three runs, thanks in large part to two UCF errors. Michael Affronti broke the ice with a two-run single to left to give Le Moyne a 2-0 lead. A sacrifice fly by Ben Gaal gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage.
UCF came right back with six runs in the home half of the fourth. Junior Ryan Bono drove in UCF's first run of the game with a RBI-single to right field. Junior John-Michael Howell added another RBI-single to cut the lead to 3-2. With runners on first and second, senior Marshall Bernhard followed with a single to center field, which went under the glove of Le Moyne center fielder Aaron Bulkley, to allow all three runs to score on the three-base error. Le Moyne later issued a balk in the fourth allowing Justin Mahon to score UCF's sixth run of the inning.
After head coach Steve Owens and assistant coach Bob Nandin were both ejected for arguing with the umpires, Le Moyne seemed to gain momentum and responded with four runs in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead. Bulkley had the big hit in the inning with a two-run single to put the Dolphins in the lead for good.
Le Moyne totaled nine hits on the afternoon including three by Bulkley. Affronti also chipped in with two hits and three RBI for the victors.
Bernhard led UCF with a 2-for-2 performance including two walks.
The Golden Knights return to the diamond Friday at 6 p.m. vs. Florida A&M. UCF hosts No. 20 Notre Dame next Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.