April 29, 2007
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Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Sophomore Eric English set a career-high by tossing 7.0 stellar innings Sunday, while the UCF offense established a season-best with 15 hits to defeat Tulane, 8-4, at Jay Bergman Field. The victory locked up the first Conference USA series sweep in the two seasons that the Knights (22-23, 4-11) have been a member of the league, and it also helped the Black and Gold move to 5-0 all-time vs. the Green Wave in Orlando.
"It's a big win for us," said English, who is in his first year with the Knights after transferring from LSU. "I knew it was on me to come out and finish the weekend up strong. But we feel great. We're going to try and take this into next week and for the rest of the season."
English (2-2), who set a personal-high with 5.1 innings last weekend at Rice, limited Tulane (29-17, 8-10) to just two runs on five hits over 7.0 innings Sunday. Brian Brooks picked up the save by holding the Green Wave scoreless over the final 1.2 frames.
Senior Matt Horwath completed what was one of the best offensive weeks in history by a Golden Knight. The DH went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in the series finale, and was 11-for-16 (.688) from the leadoff spot during the four-game week, including hitting for the cycle in game one vs. Tulane. Meanwhile, Kiko Vazquez extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 1-for-4 on the day. It was the second time this season the first baseman posted a hitting streak of seven contests. Also shining with the stick, Ryan Richardson had a 3-for-4 day with two RBI and two runs scored.
Horwath, who did not have a triple in his entire career before this weekend, smacked his second three-bagger of the series when he led off the bottom of the first with a shot over Aja Barto's head in center. Trying to take the ball to right field, Dwayne Bailey sent a grounder to second that allowed Horwath to come across home for the game's first run against starter Brandon Gomes (5-4).
After neither team threatened from the second to the fourth innings, UCF was poised to stretch its lead even further in the fifth. Richardson and Eric Kallstrom recorded back-to-back singles to open the frame and provide the Knights with runners at the corners. One out later and Chadd Hartman ripped a RBI base hit through the right side to bring the score to 2-0.
Seth Henry attempted a sixth-inning rally, leading off with a double just inside the third base bag. He eventually reached third with two outs and scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead in half. The Knights were able to get that run back in the bottom half, earning consecutive singles from Tyson Auer and Vazquez. With one down, Richardson belted a double to deep right field, plating Auer for UCF's third run. But Gomes limited the damage to just the one run by picking up two fielder's choices.
That was not the case in the seventh. While Gomes picked up out No. 1 to start the inning, Horwath and Bailey each connected for a single, with Bailey advancing to second on an attempted throw to third to try and get Horwath. Now with two runners in scoring position, Auer drilled a 2-2 pitch up the middle to plate both teammates for a 5-1 advantage.
Taylor Rogers came on and, following a stolen base from Auer, picked up out No. 2. However, Chris Duffy notched an infield single and Richardson sent a RBI single into right field. Eric Kallstrom continued to collect two-out hits for the Knights, lacing a double down the left-field line to permit pinch-runner Kyle Mills and Richardson to touch home.
Now pitching with an 8-1 lead, English walked the first batter of the eighth, which would be the last hitter he faced Sunday. Brett Bordwine relieved the starter and surrendered a single and a RBI double to Warren McFadden. UCF went back to the pen for Derek Abriola and Tim Guidry greeted him with a two-run single to right. The Green Wave eventually put baserunners at first and second with one down, but the fourth pitcher of the inning, Brian Brooks, induced pinch-hitter Grayden Griener to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Brooks finished his outing without giving up a hit to grab his first save of the season. It also was the senior's sixth of his career to move into a tie for ninth all-time at UCF with current Knight Justin Weiss and Jeff Johnson.
UCF concludes its five-game home stand when it welcomes No. 24 Stetson to Jay Bergman Field Wednesday at 6:30 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: Eric English (2-2), 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
LP: Brandon Gomes (5-4), 6.1 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 3K
SV: Brian Brooks (1), 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
- Sunday's crowd was announced as 879. Combined with the first two games of the series, the total attendance for the three-game set vs. Tulane was 2,917, marking the fifth-largest series in the seven-year history of Jay Bergman Field.
- Tyson Auer's stolen base in the seventh inning was his 20th of the season and 52nd of his career.
- Eric Kallstrom and Tyson Auer each had two hits in the finale vs. the Green Wave.
- All nine starting position players notched at least one hit.
- UCF's last three-game sweep came vs. Massachusetts earlier this year, March 9-11. The last time it swept a conference opponent was at Belmont in the Atlantic Sun, April 15-17, 2005, and the last time it happened at home was against Campbell March 11-12, 2005.