April 12, 2008
Sunday's Preview in PDF Format
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF baseball team had plenty of scoring opportunities but could not capitalize in an 8-7 11-inning defeat at the hands of Memphis in game two of the series Saturday at Jay Bergman Field. The loss dropped the Knights' record to 25-12 overall and 3-8 in Conference USA action.
Senior Dwayne Bailey racked up three hits, scored three runs and stole two bases vs. the Tigers (13-20, 4-7). UCF finished with 13 hits and was issued 12 walks in the contest, but left 16 runners on base.
Each team loaded the bases in the first inning, but it was Memphis who came away ahead, 2-1. Facing UCF starter Mitch Houck, the Tigers drew three walks and Cole Shelton banged a two-out double down the left-field line to plate two. The Knights tried to respond against Brach Davis, filling them up with no outs but could only get a sacrifice fly from junior Brandon Romans. Memphis' two-out hitting return in the second, where a pair of singles set up Brett Bowen's three-run homer to right to bring the Tiger lead to 5-1.
Right fielder Chadd Hartman provided the Knights with their second run on a RBI single in the second, and junior Eric Kallstrom drove in classmate Brandon Romans with a double off the center-field wall in the third. However two runners were left on base with one down in each inning as Memphis recorded an out at home in both the second and third frames.
UCF came back with yet another run in the fourth and did so without the benefit of a hit by earning three walks and a hit by pitch. It continued to leave runners aboard, though, as the bases were left loaded in both the fourth and fifth innings. Now with a 5-4 advantage, Bowen added his second home run of the game with a solo shot in the seventh, and the Tigers later tallied an unearned run for a 7-4 cushion.
A double by Hartman in the bottom of the seventh did score senior Tyson Auer all of the way from first, but Hartman was eventually stranded at third with one down. When Memphis closer Matt Yokley took the hill in the eighth, the righty shut UCF down until the ninth when Auer singled up the middle to get things started and Yokley issued two walks with one out. This time, UCF broke through as junior Robert Lara connected on a 0-1 pitch with a single through the left side, scoring Auer and Bailey to tie things up at 7-7. Yokley then faced runners at first and second and still just one out yet earned a double-play ball to end the threat.
Even though momentum shifted to the Knights, the Tigers used two-out hitting once again to retake the lead on a RBI double to right-center from Tyler Huelsing in the 11th inning vs. junior Justin Weiss. UCF did manage to put runners at first and second with one down in the bottom half only to watch Yokley pick up another double play to end the evening.
The rubber match between UCF and Memphis will get underway at noon Sunday.
UCF baseball single-game tickets are currently available by contacting the UCF Ticket Office at 407-823-1000, or by going online at www.ucfathletics.com, the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Game Notes
Memphis - 13-20 Overall, 4-7 Conference USA
UCF - 25-12 Overall, 3-8 Conference USA
WP: Matt Yokley (2-1), 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
LP: Justin Weiss (1-1), 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
- UCF pulled off three separate double steals. Dwayne Bailey and Colin Arnold each had two steals, while Tyson Auer and Chadd Hartman added one apiece.
- Chadd Hartman was making just his third start of the year Saturday, and went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
- Eric Kallstrom's hitting streak moved to 12 games.
- Chris Duffy's hitting streak reached five games.
- UCF closer Justin Weiss matched a career-high with 4.0 innings pitched. He finished with three strikeouts and gave up just four hits.
- Colin Arnold was issued four walks in the game, which was just one shy of tying the UCF single-game mark.