Feb. 7, 2006
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- UCF (1-2) scored two runs in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie as the Golden Knights captured their first win of the season with an 8-4 victory at Bethune-Cookman (1-2) Tuesday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. The win was UCF's ninth straight vs. Bethune-Cookman and the seventh consecutive victory at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Junior Brian Brooks (1-0) earned the win in relief with one inning of work. Senior Dominic Petracca pitched the final two innings for his first save of the season. The Sanford native recorded two strikeouts and yielded just one hit for the save.
A two-out rally in the second led to a three-run inning for the Golden Knights. Junior third baseman Matt Ray got the scoring started with a RBI-single and senior catcher Ryan Bono delivered a bases-loaded, two-run double to give UCF a 3-0 lead.
Bethune-Cookman remained scoreless until the sixth inning when the Wildcats scored three; two-out runs to tie the game. After the Wildcats pieced together a pair of infield singles around two outs, senior first baseman Rob Caruso belted a triple to right-center field to close the gap to 3-2. Senior catcher Jorge Mico followed with a run-scoring single to center to deadlock the game at three.
Two walks and a Bethune-Cookman error helped UCF regain the lead in the seventh. Freshman pinch hitter Shane Ynclan drove in a run with a RBI-groundout and freshman second baseman Eric Kallstrom plated UCF's fifth run of the game with a sacrifice fly.
Bethune-Cookman scored one run in the seventh, but had an opportunity for a big inning. The Wildcats had the bases loaded with no outs, but Ray turned in an unassisted double play at third after snaring a line drive and tagging out the runner at third. Petracca came in to get the final out of the inning on a groundout to end the threat.
Three UCF hits and two Bethune-Cookman errors led to two runs in the eighth as the Golden Knights extended the lead to 7-4.
Junior shortstop Jon Cooper added a RBI-single in the ninth to close out the scoring.
Bono and sophomore center fielder Tyson Auer each recorded three hits to lead UCF offensively.
UCF has a 10-day layoff until Feb. 17 vs. North Florida at Jay Bergman Field. Season tickets and single-game tickets are available by calling 407-823-GOLD.