April 11, 2006
ORLANDO - USF senior left fielder Kris Howell doubled in the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning to lead the visiting Bulls to a 4-3 victory over UCF Tuesday evening at Jay Bergman Field. Howell lined a shot over the head of UCF left fielder Matt Lambert to give the Bulls the victory.
With the win, USF snapped an eight-game losing streak and moved to 15-19 on the season while UCF dropped to 20-16.
UCF was just 2-for-15 on the night with runners on base as the Golden Knights left nine runners on base.
The Bulls scored one run in the first and two in the second to grab an early 3-0 lead.
UCF added a run in the third as freshman right fielder Chadd Hartman walked with the bases loaded to force in a run.
The Golden Knights tied the game in the sixth with two runs. USF committed two costly errors in the frame, which led to two unearned runs for the Golden Knights. Senior DH Dave Lambert scored on a throwing error by USF third baseman Dexter Butler to cut the deficit to 3-2. With runners on first and third, Kiko Vazquez scored when USF catcher Braulio Pardo attempted to throw out Dave DiNatale on a stolen base attempt at second base, but the throw sailed into center field to plate Vazquez.
The game remained tied until the eighth. With UCF starting pitcher Kyle Sweat still in the contest, the freshman right-hander issued a leadoff walk and yielded a sacrifice bunt before making way to sophomore Matt McClung. McClung yielded a RBI-double to Howell to give the Bulls the lead for good, 4-3.
Sweat (2-2) pitched well in defeat, going 7.1 innings and allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts. USF reliever Nick Manganaro (2-2) worked two innings for the win while Chase Lirette saved his fifth game of the season for the Bulls.
UCF returns to the diamond this weekend at Tulane. The series begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Zephyr Field in New Orleans.