April 8, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF took a 3-1 advantage into the bottom of the fifth, but watched as Preston Tucker hit a two-out grand slam to give No. 22 Florida its first lead and it went on to a 16-3 victory Wednesday in Gainesville. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Knights, who fell to 11-22 on the season.
One of UCF's two double-digit hitting streaks survived vs. the Gators (21-11), with senior Colin Arnold going 2-for-4 to push his career-long streak to 16 games. That stands as the seventh-longest in UCF history. However, the school's second-best streak of all time ended Wednesday, when junior Shane Brown went hitless for the first time since March 1 at LSU. His 22-game hitting streak fell just four games shy of tying Mike Myers' record of 26 set in 2001.
After junior starter Austin Hudson completed his 2.0 innings on the mound without giving up a run, the Knights forced UF starting hurler Justin Poovy out of the game in the top of the third. It did start on unfortunate terms, though, when senior Kyle Mills was hit in head with one out. He would later be helped to his feet yet had to be pinch-run for.
Freshman Jake Huxtable entered and traveled to second on an Arnold base hit, and scored the first run by way of a double from freshman Beau Taylor, who fell behind 0-2 before chopping a 2-2 pitch down the left-field line. Arnold was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat, but senior Brandon Romans picked up the clutch hit, driving a two-run single to center.
The Gators did answer in the home half on a two-out RBI triple off the bat of Avery Barnes to cut it to 3-1, but delivered the big blow in the fifth. With the bases loaded, two outs and facing a 2-2 pitch from junior Cory Weech, Tucker sent a no-doubter over the right field wall for a grand slam.
With one swing, UCF was now trailing 5-3 and it could not recover. UF racked up six more in the sixth and was on its way, highlighted by Tucker accumulating 11 RBI on two grand slams and a three-run homer.
With the five-game road trip concluded, UCF finally returns home for Hall of Fame Weekend as it hosts Tulane in a Conference USA series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Baseball flex pack voucher packages as well as single game tickets are on sale for the 2009 campaign. Call the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000 for more information. Fans may also visit UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, and is the home of UCF's online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Game Notes
UCF - 11-22 Overall
No. 22 Florida - 21-11 Overall
WP: Anthony DeSclafani (3-1), 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
LP: Cory Weech (3-1), 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
- Freshman Beau Taylor ruined an impressive streak by Florida's Matt den Dekker. The junior was successful in stealing 29-straight bases dating back to 2007 until Taylor threw him out at third base in the first inning.
- Brandon Romans' hitting streak reached six games.