April 24, 2007
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Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - A five-hit night by Sebring's Kiko Vazquez sparked the UCF baseball team Tuesday in an 11-5 victory over USF at Jay Bergman Field. The sophomore's five singles set a career-high, as he led an offensive attack that tied a 2007 team-high with 14 total hits in the win.
Vazquez along with Tyson Auer and Chris Duffy all had two hits in the third inning, where UCF (19-23) struck for eight runs vs. USF (27-16), its largest production in a single inning this season. Vazquez finished 5-for-5 with five RBI, falling one hit short of tying UCF's all-time record for hits in a game. Meanwhile, Auer, Duffy, Ryan Richardson and Matt Horwath all concluded their evenings with two hits apiece. Auer also set a personal-best himself, scoring four runs out of the No. 3 hole.
Freshman Kyle Maulbetsch made his first collegiate start for the Knights, giving up three earned runs in 4.1 innings while matching a season-high with three strikeouts. Brian Brooks (3-1) got the win by pitching 3.2 innings of relief, striking out two and not allowing an earned run.
Just like its previous meeting against USF, UCF was quick to get the bats going, scoring two in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead against Daryl Lewis (0-1). Horwath opened with a double over the head of left fielder Charles Cleveland, Dwayne Bailey sacrificed Horwath over to third and Auer walked and stole second to give the Knights two in scoring position. On a 2-2 pitch, Vazquez found a hole between shortstop and third base that was just enough to drive in both runners.
USF did place a runner at second in each of the first two innings, but could not solve Maulbetsch until the third when it scored an unearned run off a RBI single by Addison Maruszak.
The Knights tried to strike back in the bottom half, and ended up having their biggest inning of the year by sending 14 hitters to the plate. Auer got it started with a single to left, becoming the third-straight leadoff hitter to reach. Vazquez blasted another single, this time to center, to place runners at the corners. Facing a good hitter's count at 3-1, Duffy lined a RBI base hit to center to bring the lead up to 3-1. Following Brandon Romans' first sacrifice bunt of the year, Richardson sent a bloop single to left center for the second run of the inning and Eric Kallstrom grounded out to first which enabled Duffy to touch home.
Still in the third, UCF eventually loaded them up with two down. Lewis walked Bailey to allow UCF to climb out to a 6-1 advantage. That was when Matt Wagner relieved Lewis but could not get an out in the two batters he faced. Auer connected for his second hit of the third to score Chadd Hartman, and Vazquez did the same, singling to center to permit Bailey and Horwath to cross home plate. Davis Bilardello then stepped on the hill and gave up Duffy's second hit of the frame to raise UCF's lead to 10-1.
With a large cushion, Maulbetsch retired the side in order in the fourth only to fall into trouble in the fifth. The Bulls tallied three runs off the righty, causing the Knights to go to the pen in favor of Brooks, who escaped without anymore damage being caused. However, USF sent across one more unearned run in the sixth to inch closer, 10-5.
The Black and Gold did not want the Bulls to make a game of it, as Vazquez returned in the seventh. With Auer at second and two down, the first baseman laced his fifth hit of the night to center on a 0-2 pitch to stretch the lead to 11-5.
Justin Weiss came on and pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two in the process, to close out the game for the Knights.
The Conference USA schedule resumes for UCF when it hosts Tulane for a three-game set this weekend. First pitch for game one is Friday at 6:30 p.m. It will be Tulane's first-ever trip to Jay Bergman Field, and the second time it takes on the Knights in Orlando (UCF swept a doubleheader in 1989).
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: Brian Brooks (3-1), 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
LP: Daryl Lewis (0-1), 2.2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 0 K
- The announced crowd Tuesday was 1,033, the 23rd largest crowd in the seven-year history of Jay Bergman Field.
- Kiko Vazquez's five hits was the first time a Knight had five base hits in a game since Matt Ray did it vs. Memphis May 13, 2006. Ray also went 5-for-5 in that game. The UCF single-game record was set by Eric Riggs when he recorded six against Stetson April 10, 1998.
- Vazquez's five RBI were one shy of his career-high of six set vs. Maryland Feb. 17 earlier this year.
- Ryan Richardson stole his 10th base of the season, and is now 10-for-10 on the season in stolen base attempts.
- Along with his 2-for-4, four-run day, junior Tyson Auer swiped two bases against USF, giving him a personal-high 19 on the season. He also now has 51 for his career.
- Dwayne Bailey laid down two sacrifice bunts in the win, which gives him a team-high six on the season.
- Tuesday marked the final meeting of 2007 between USF and UCF. The home team won every game this season as USF won the two previous contests in Tampa (April 3 and April 17).