May 7, 2006
HOUSTON - Houston freshman right-hander Luis Flores tossed seven shutout innings to lead the tenth-ranked Cougars to a 5-2 victory and series sweep of visiting UCF Sunday afternoon at Cougar Field. The loss was UCF's eighth straight in Conference USA play as the Golden Knights dropped to 23-27 overall and 5-13 in league play.
Flores (5-2) held the Golden Knights in check all day long, limiting UCF to just two hits with three strikeouts.
The game was scoreless through the first four innings before the Cougars (34-17, 17-4 C-USA) scored two runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Cougars broke the scoreless tie in the fifth on a two-run single by left fielder Jake Stewart.
Houston first baseman Josh Stirneman launched a two-run home run in the sixth to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Golden Knights went to their bench for their first run of the game in the eighth as pinch-hitter Matt Lambert drilled a double into the gap in left center field to cut the UH lead to 4-1. UCF left the bases loaded in the frame, as Chadd Hartman grounded out to end the threat.
Houston answered quickly in the home half of the eighth as third baseman Dustin Kingsbury hit a solo homer to extend the lead to 5-1.
For the third time in the series, UCF left the bases loaded to end the game as the Golden Knights stranded three runners on base in the ninth. Ray came through with a RBI-single in the frame, but Houston reliever Matt Farrington recorded the game's final out for his first save of the season.
UCF left 11 runners on base.
Houston-area native Danny Kash tied a career-high with two hits for the Golden Knights.
UCF returns to the diamond next weekend vs. Memphis. The final home series of the season begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. from Jay Bergman Field.
Game Notes: Freshman Kiko Vazquez pinch-hit for the first time in his career Sunday with a single in the ninth inning ... UCF's pinch-hitters were 2-for-2 with a walk Sunday vs. the Cougars.