April 10, 2007
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Gainesville, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Taking on an incredibly potent offense, sophomore Kyle Sweat was no match for No. 17 Florida Tuesday in Gainesville, Fla. The sophomore native of Apopka pitched 8.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball for the UCF baseball team (18-19) and was backed up by 14 hits from his teammates in a 6-2 upset of the Gators (20-16).
In his fourth start of 2007, Sweat (3-2) dazzled. The righty surrendered a double in the third, a single in the fourth and two walks in the fifth in his near flawless performance. Sweat finished by tying a career-high with 8.0 innings (112 pitches), limiting the Gators to two hits and two walks while striking out three. He retired the final 10 batters he faced.
Tyson Auer's two-run single in the third inning kept UCF's longest hitting streak of the season alive. The Longwood native pushed it to 12 games by going 2-for-5 and also swiped his team-best 17th base vs. the Gators. Also shining with the bat, Dwayne Bailey set a personal-best with three hits, while the Knights tied a season-high with 14 hits on the evening.
UCF entered the game against Florida by letting its opponent score first in 11 of the last 12 games. However, the Knights turned the tables Tuesday when they jumped on Stephen Locke (3-3) for three in the third. With one down, Bailey drove a double to the gap in right center and watched as Matt Horwath earned a free pass. Shane Brown loaded them up by beating out an infield single to third, which set up Auer's two-run base hit. On a 1-0 pitch, the center fielder found a hole up the middle to give the Black and Gold a 2-0 lead. In what would become Locke's final batter, Kiko Vazquez concluded the scoring with a RBI base hit through the left side.
Another scoring chance arose in the fifth but Florida reliever Kyle Mullaney was able to leave the bases juiced, keeping the UCF lead at 3-0. Sweat finally got into some trouble in the fifth, the first time the Gators put two aboard. Facing runners at first and second and two down, a passed ball put them both in scoring position. Pinch-hitter Cody Neer was able to work the count full, only to swing at a pitch in the dirt, allowing Sweat to escape.
The Knights tried to come right back in the top of the sixth. Ryan Richardson got things going with a bloop hit down the right-field line and stole his ninth base of the year. A walk to Eric Kallstrom gave them two aboard and Chadd Hartman laid down the perfect bunt to move them both up. Even though he fell behind 0-2, Bailey fought back and grounded a base hit over the head of Matt LaPorta at first to stretch the lead to 4-0. Mullaney then left in favor of Josh Edmondson, and after Bailey swiped second, Horwath grounded a soft chopper to short than enabled Kallstrom to touch home for the fifth run.
UCF capped off its scoring with an unearned run in the ninth as Vazquez, who led off with a single, scored on a two-out error. The run would be huge as Florida attempted a comeback against the UCF bullpen. After scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth, closer Justin Weiss stepped in and walked the first batter he faced to give Florida bases loaded with one out. Jared Kubin stepped in and serving as the tying run, struck out on three pitches. Matt den Dekker was next in line and he immediately popped up to the mound to lock up Weiss' fifth save of the year.
To celebrate the upcoming bye weekend, UCF will host its annual UCF Baseball Golf Classic Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Shingle Creek Golf Club. To compete in the event, fans may contact the coaching staff at (407) 823-3260. The Knights also host the UCF Alumni Game Sunday with festivities beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Jay Bergman Field.
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: Kyle Sweat (3-2), 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
LP: Stephen Locke (3-3), 2.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
SV: Justin Weiss (5), 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
- Tuesday's game was the first time this season that UCF was featured on television as Sun Sports was on hand for the broadcast.
- Dwayne Bailey's double in the third inning was his first since March 9 vs. Massachusetts and third of the season.
- Kyle Sweat's last start was against Harvard March 26, an 8.0 inning gem where he picked up the win by giving up just two runs on six hits.
- Florida was UCF's second ranked opponent it had faced in 2007. Previously, the Knights went up against then-No. 15 TCU Feb. 9-11 in a three-game series at Jay Bergman Field (UCF went 1-2).
- UCF's last visit to Gainesville was in 2005 when the then-No. 11 Gators claimed a 17-6 win. The last time the Knights won at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium was an 8-7 triumph in 1999.
- Matt Horwath's eight-game hitting streak was snapped Tuesday.
- Freshman Kyle Mills swiped his first career base in the eighth inning. In all, the Knights had four stolen bases.