March 13, 2007
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Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF baseball team's offense struck early and the pitching staff got out of some tough jams en route to a 12-4 victory over Army Tuesday at Jay Bergman Field. While scoring the most runs in a game this season, the Golden Knights (12-9) also extended their winning streak to six games with the triumph over the Black Knights (5-7).
Chris Duffy stretched his hitting streak to nine games, the longest by a Golden Knights in 2007, by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Not to be outdone, Tyson Auer went 3-for-4, scoring three runs and swiping his Conference USA-best 12th base. Kiko Vazquez also shined, as the reigning C-USA Player of the Week went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Vazquez, along with freshman Shane Brown, connected for their first-career triples in the victory.
On the mound, Brett Bordwine moved to 2-0 by going 6.0 innings with four strikeouts. Kyle Sweat racked up his first collegiate save, pitching the last 3.0 innings and not giving up a run.
Not wasting any time, Auer placed a single into right field in the bottom of the first vs. starter Drew Clothier (2-1). Chadd Hartman followed with a sacrifice bunt, but the infield elected to try and get Auer at second and was unsuccessful. Although Vazquez flied out, which allowed Auer to take third, a fielding error off the bat of Brandon Romans brought in the first run. Duffy came through by singling through the right side to make it 2-0, and Romans touched home on a passed ball. Two-straight walks completed the scoring as Eric Kallstrom's occurred with the bases juiced, permitting UCF to leave the first up, 4-0.
Army threatened to recover in the top of the second, only to come within a few inches of recording its first run of the game. Cole White led it off on a double off the wall in left center, and after a line out, Kyle Stramara ripped a single up the middle. White raced around third and it appeared he was not going to have any trouble reaching home safely. However, Auer quickly scooped up the ball in center and fired a perfect one-hopper to Romans behind the plate. In one motion, Romans snagged it and delivered the tag just in time to keep Army scoreless.
UCF continued to have presence at the plate in the second, earning three runs that all coming off the bat of Brown. Witnessing Vazquez double with one out and Romans and Duffy both walk, Brown, who had been arguably UCF's most clutch hitter with the bases loaded this year, stepped to the plate and pounded a bases-clearing triple to right center. The freshman third baseman's three RBI set a career-high.
Now facing reliever Kyle Terza in the third, Auer helped the Golden Knights jump out to an 8-0 advantage. Thanks to a free pass that got him aboard, Auer reached second on a balk, stole third and scored on the play when the catcher's throw went into left field. Army finally broke through Bordwine's shield in the fifth, though. A Tony Capozzi RBI single gave the Black Knights their first run, and they eventually had two runners in scoring position with just one away. Bordwine recorded the second out on a grounder to third, only to walk the next two batters to help cut it to 8-2. The righty escaped without any more damage, striking out White to end the frame.
A leadoff walk in the seventh forced Bordwine to head the dugout in favor of the bullpen, which Army pounced on for two more runs, the first credited to Bordwine. Sweat closed the door by striking out the final two Black Knights when they had the bases loaded.
UCF picked those runs back up in the bottom half, notching a RBI single by Auer and a sacrifice fly with the bases jammed by Vazquez. Two innings later, Vazquez ripped his triple to dead center field to drive in Auer with two outs. Romans quickly made it 12-4 by sending the first pitch he saw to left field for the run-scoring single. The lead, as well as Sweat's relief performance, was too much for Army to overcome as UCF held on for the win.
The Golden Knights continue to stay in the medieval times as they will welcome the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for a three-game set this weekend. First pitch Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., while Sunday's finale gets underway at 1 p.m. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.
Game Notes:
WP: Brett Bordwine (2-0), 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
LP: Drew Clothier (2-1), 2.0 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
SV: Kyle Sweat (1), 3.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
- Tyson Auer's stolen base ensured UCF of having at least one steal in 12-straight outings. Meanwhile, his three runs scored tied a career-high.
- The Golden Knights moved to 9-2 in their last 11 games.
- Tuesday's meeting with Army was the first ever between the two programs. - Brandon Romans completed the evening by going 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.