April 2, 2006
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Senior catcher Ryan Bono finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a run scored but it was not enough as host Marshall rallied for a three-run eighth inning to defeat UCF 6-5 Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, W.Va.
Marshall (11-13, 1-5 C-USA) avoided the three-game sweep for its first conference win in six tries. UCF (18-13, 2-1 C-USA) lost for the first time in 16 games this season when leading after seven innings of play.
UCF jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Freshman left fielder Ryan Williams and junior second baseman Matt Horwath both contributed RBI-singles in the first for the Golden Knights.
Marshall scored two runs of its own in the home half of the first, including a RBI-double by designated hitter Brendan Murphy.
Horwath added a two-run double in the third to extend the UCF lead to 5-2.
Murphy added his second RBI of the game in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to bring Marshall to within two at 5-3.
In the home half of the eighth, Marshall's Brent Mason tied the contest at five with a two-run single and Chris Monaco delivered the game-winning single to lift the Thundering Herd to the victory.
Marshall's Andrew Blain (1-0) earned the win in relief with a scoreless inning of work.
Bono led UCF with four hits while Horwath added two hits and three RBI.
The Golden Knights return to action Tuesday evening at USF. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Red McEwen Field in Tampa. The game will air live on the UCF ISP Sports Network (740-AM The Team) with the "Voice of the Golden Knights," Marc Daniels. The pregame show beings at 6:45 p.m.