Feb. 6, 2005
ORLANDO - Sophomore Tim Bascom held Florida International (2-3) scoreless over 7.1 innings and yielded just three hits to lead No. 24 UCF (2-0) to a 3-2 victory over the Golden Panthers Sunday at Jay Bergman Field. Bascom was sensational in his first career start as he struck out five on the day.
The Dunedin native set career-highs in innings pitched (7.1) and strikeouts (5) on the day.
The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when sophomore shortstop Matt Ray led off with a double and later scored on a RBI-single by senior left fielder Dee Brown.
The Golden Knights added a pair of runs in the seventh as Brown hit a two-run single to right field with the bases loaded and two outs to give UCF a 3-0 lead.
UCF looked to close out the game in the ninth without allowing a run, but FIU scored two, two-out runs off UCF reliever Ray Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit a batter and walked a man to force in FIU's two runs.
UCF turned to freshman right-hander Jeremy Thorne to close out the game and get the final out. Thorne forced Corey Lozano to ground out to second to end the game. The save was the first of Thorne's career in his first appearance as a Golden Knight.
Brown led UCF offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. FIU starter Elih Villanueva was the tough-luck loser after pitching 6.2 innings. Villanueva yielded four hits and three runs with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Golden Knights continue their nine-game homestand to open the season Tuesday at 3 p.m. vs. Bethune-Cookman.