Feb. 5, 2006
MIAMI - Walker Whitley pitched 7.0 shutout innings to lead host Florida International (1-2) past UCF 4-3 Sunday afternoon at University Park in Miami. Whitley held UCF (0-1) to just two hits and totaled eight strikeouts for his first career victory as a Golden Panther. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for UCF vs. Florida International.
UCF scored a pair of runs in the eighth and loaded the bases in the ninth, but the Golden Knights could only muster one run with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth.
The Golden Panthers broke a scoreless tie in the fourth when Nick Cadena stole home to give FIU a 1-0 lead. Cadena led off the frame with FIU's first hit of the game. It marked the first steal of home by an opponent vs. UCF since Bethune-Cookman's Wes Timmons four years ago on February 5, 2002.
Cadena struck again in the fifth with a bases loaded RBI-single as FIU scored three times in the inning to stretch the lead to 4-0.
UCF closed the gap in half on one swing in the eighth. Freshman first baseman Kiko Vazquez crushed a two-run home run over the fence in left-center field to cut the deficit to 4-2. The home run marked the first career hit for Vazquez a Golden Knight.
The Golden Knights loaded the bases with just one out in the ninth, but could only manage to score one run in the frame. Freshman Shane Ynclan drove in a run with the bases loaded with a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 4-3. After Ryan Bono flied out to right for the second out, FIU right fielder Chris Dunn made an amazing catch over the fence in foul territory in right field to end the game.
Preseason All-American Tim Bascom (0-1) was tagged with the loss for the Golden Knights. The Dunedin native lost his first career decision to FIU, dropping his career record to 2-1 vs. the Golden Panthers. Bascom tossed 4.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned), two hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
Game Notes: Junior infielder Matt Ray and freshman pitcher Kyle Sweat missed both games of the Florida International series. Both players were suspended for the weekend by head coach Jay Bergman for a violation of team policy ... Taylor Meier made his first appearance since June 5, 2004 for the Golden Knights. The redshirt sophomore right-hander pitched 1.1 innings of relief. Meier missed all of 2005 with a shoulder injury.