April 9, 2005
ORLANDO - UCF senior right-handed pitcher Darren Newlin pitched a career-high 8.1 innings to lead the 25th-ranked Golden Knights to a 6-1 victory over Lipscomb in the rubber game of the three-game series. After squandering a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning with two outs to lose 5-4 to Lipscomb earlier in the day, the Golden Knights controlled game three from start to finish earning the series win.
Newlin (7-1) was magnificent in holding the Bison to one run on six hits. The Tallahassee native won his team-leading seventh game of the season with seven strikeouts vs. the Bison.
"Darren pitched a great game and gave us a chance to win," commented UCF head coach Jay Bergman. "We had a few timely hits, but it was a rather lackluster day as far as our play was concerned."
"I was able to locate my fastball inside and my slider away, which was key," added Newlin.
The Golden Knight offense was quiet until the fourth when they scored three runs. A throwing error by Lipscomb starter Seth Kuwik scored two runs with the bases loaded as all three runs in the frame were unearned. With the bases loaded and one out, Kuwik threw home on a grounder back to the pitcher. The throw sailed wide of the catcher, scoring Marshall Bernhard and Ryan Bono. Matt Horwath added a sacrifice fly to score the third run of the inning.
Bernhard added a sacrifice fly in the fifth and John-Michael Howell dropped in a two-run double down the line in left to give the Golden Knights a 6-0 lead through six innings.
Newlin's bid for a shutout ended in the ninth as the Bison scored one run. With two runners on, Matt Rhodes came in to get the final two outs with two strikeouts to preserve the win.
UCF totaled 10 hits on the night, including two hits by sophomore right fielder Courtney Propst. Howell and Drew Butera also had two-hit nights for the victors.
The Golden Knights return to action Tuesday at home vs. regional rival USF. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. as junior Ray Rodriguez gets the start. The game will be broadcast on 740-AM The Team on the UCF ISP Sports Network. The pregame show airs at 6:45 with the voice of the Golden Knights, Marc Daniels.