May 18, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss pinch hitter Bailey Hartel delivered a game-winning single through the left side to give the host Eagles a 4-3 victory in 10 innings over UCF Thursday evening before a crowd of 3,028 fans at Pete Taylor Park. The loss dropped the Golden Knights to 23-31 overall and 5-17 in C-USA while the Golden Eagles moved to 35-19 and 11-11 in league play.
The one-run loss was UCF's 11th of the season as the Golden Knights fell to 4-11 in one-run games in 2006. UCF is just 2-3 in extra-inning games in 2006.
Southern Miss flexed its home run power in the second inning as left fielder Michael Ewing launched a two-run shot to right-center field to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead. Southern Miss entered the game with 72 home runs, first in C-USA.
The Eagles added to their lead in the third on a RBI-groundout by center fielder Toddric Johnson to go in front, 3-0.
The Golden Knights used a long ball of their own in the top of the seventh as freshman left fielder Chadd Hartman launched a three-run homer to center field to tie the score at three. The home run was the first of Hartman's career.
UCF junior left-handed pitcher Brian Brooks, making his first start of the season and just the third start in 63 career appearances, pitched extremely well for the Golden Knights. Brooks logged a career-high 6.1 innings and held the Golden Eagles to three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
The Golden Knights just missed taking the lead in the top of the 10th inning as freshman right fielder Dave DiNatale lined out to right field to end the threat with the bases loaded.
In the Southern Miss 10th, Johnson singled to leadoff the inning and stole second before scoring on the game-winning single by Hartel to end the game.
Southern Miss reliever Daniel Best (6-2) worked 2.2 innings for the victory. The senior right-hander struck out two and yielded one hit to capture the victory.
UCF senior reliever Dominic Petracca (2-3) was credited with the loss. Petracca surrendered one run on two hits in one inning of work.
Hartman was 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead UCF offensively. Senior DH Dave Lambert also had two hits for the Golden Knights.
The three-game series continues Friday evening from Pete Taylor Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Game Notes: Senior catcher Ryan Bono moved into sole possession of 10th place in UCF history with his 215th career hit Thursday night.