April 15, 2005
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Matt Horwath blasted two home runs and drove in four runs as No. 26 UCF rolled past Belmont, 19-2 at Shelby Park on Friday afternoon.
"I think this was the best offensive game that we've had in a long time," Manager Jay Bergman said. "(Tim) Bascom pitched well for us, and we had some good defense behind him."
The Golden Knights (33-8, 13-4 A-Sun) got off to a quick start platting five runs in the first inning. Horwath got it started with a solo shot to left center field.
UCF used three Belmont errors in the frame, while Drew Butera picked up a RBI single.
The Golden Knights struck again denting the scoreboard with another five spot in the third inning.
Marshall Bernhard and Ryan Bono opened the frame getting hit by pitches. Butera ripped another RBI single, and Bono came around to score on a Belmont fielding error. After a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Richmond, Butera scored on a sacrifice fly by Courtney Propst.
Matt Ray poked a single up the middle, and Horwath smashed his second homer of the day, this one to right center, putting UCF up 10-0.
"Scoring runs early is what we have to do to win," Bergman said. "We were locked in up there at the plate, and one good thing was that we didn't slow down. We didn't give away at bats, and we stayed with our normal approach up there at the plate."
Tim Bascom was in cruise control all day throwing his second complete game. Bascom gave up seven hits, and fanned eight on his way to his team leading eighth win of the season.
"Another key thing was he didn't walk anybody," Bergman said. "Sometimes when teams score runs for you, you as a pitcher you tend to lose your focus on what you're doing. Tim didn't do that, and that's a good learning experience for him."
Belmont (19-15, 6-10 A-Sun) could only garner RBI singles in the fourth and ninth innings against Bascom.
UCF added three more runs in the fifth behind a Dee Brown double that drove in two runs.
Butera knocked a home run, while Horwath completed his three-for-five day with a RBI single making it 15-1 through six.
The Golden Knights tallied another four runs in the seventh. John Michael Howell lifted a homer to left center, while Richmond hit UCF's fifth homer of the day, a three-run job over the right center field fence.
UCF continues their series with Belmont tomorrow afternoon at Shelby Park. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
Game Notes: The 19 runs were the second highest output for the Golden Knights this season, UCF platted 22 earlier this season against St. Joseph's (03/08)... UCF hit a season-high five homers; the last time Bergman's squad hit five homers was against Purdue in 2001... This is the second time this week that UCF has scored five runs in the first inning. The Golden Knights put a five spot on the board against USF on Tuesday... The Golden Knights are 22-2 when scoring first this season, 16-0 when scoring in the first inning... UCF batted around in both the first and third innings... Matt Horwath joined Dee Brown with two homers in a game. Brown reached that feat earlier this season against Campbell (03/15)... Kevin Richmond and Drew Butera drove in three runs apiece... Tim Bascom is now 8-2, and has now won six of his last seven starts... UCF has now outscored Belmont, 36-6 in its last five meetings with the Bruins.