April 30, 2005
ORLANDO - UCF freshman center fielder Tyson Auer recorded a career-high three hits, including his first career home run to lead the Golden Knights to an 8-1 victory over visiting Florida Atlantic Saturday evening at Jay Bergman Field. The 25th-ranked Golden Knights used 13 hits on the night and 10 strikeouts by starting pitcher Tim Bascom en route to the victory.
"I think we responded tonight just like I thought we would," commented UCF head coach Jay Bergman. "We pitched very well and we hit the ball well and ran the bases impressively in the victory."
Bascom (9-2) totaled 10-plus strikeouts for the fourth time this season as he won his team-leading ninth game of the season. The Roger Clemens Award watch list nominee was in control all night long, logging 8.0 innings to secure the win.
UCF scored one run in the first inning to keep its season-long streak perfect. Ryan Bono drove in a run with a single as UCF moved to a perfect 18-0 in 2005 when scoring in the first inning.
The Owls tied the game at one in the fourth before UCF scored one run in the fourth and three in the sixth to take control of the contest.
In the fourth, Drew Butera hit his fourth home run of the season to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead.
In the sixth, Auer crushed his first career home run down the left field line to pad the UCF lead to 3-1. Auer finished 3-for-4 on the night, with all three hits coming against FAU starter Mike McBryde. McBryde struck out Auer with two runners on to end Friday's game, but Auer was the man of the hour Saturday to propel the Golden Knights to victory.
McBryde (2-1) was tagged with five runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings for the loss.
UCF added two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to round out the scoring.
Four Golden Knights recorded multi-hit games, including three each by Auer, Butera and Marshall Bernhard.
The Golden Knights look to secure the series win Sunday vs. the Owls. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. from Jay Bergman Field.