May 12, 2009
DELAND, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - A total of seven pitchers limited Stetson to just six hits while four players recorded two base hits apiece in UCF baseball's 5-4 win at Stetson Tuesday evening. A pair of Winter Springs High School freshmen hurlers provided the staff with the spark, as Bryan Brown collected his first-collegiate victory for the Knights (20-32) and Jordan Rasinski nabbed his first-career save.
UCF's triumph over Stetson (26-27) marked not only the end of the non-conference schedule for both programs, but the Knights' sixth-straight vs. the Hatters and fourth-consecutive victory in DeLand. Earlier this year, UCF defeated Stetson twice in Orlando.
Bringing out the aluminum for the Knights, senior Kiko Vazquez, junior Shane Brown and freshmen Austin Smith and D.J. Hicks each pounded out two hits.
Riding momentum from starting pitcher Austin Hudson escaping a jam in the bottom of the first, Hicks opened the second by pulling a double into the right-field corner against southpaw David Burns. Vazquez followed by stroking a two-strike pitch up the middle to get runners at first and third, setting up a sac fly to right from freshman Jake Huxtable. Eventually with two away, senior Chadd Hartman ripped the first pitch he saw into center with Vazquez at second for a RBI single, giving the Knights a 2-0 lead.
Hudson was able to leave another runner in scoring position in Stetson's version of the second, but could not get out of the third as the Hatters plated a pair of runs to even things up at two apiece.
That did not affect the UCF bats for the fifth, where two-out hitting was the story. Smith provided the Black and Gold with its first runner, lining a double down the left-field line, and there were quickly runners at the corners thanks to an infield single from senior Josh Siebenaler. Stetson decided to go to the pen for Nick Bohne, and was greeted rudely when Shane Brown drove his first pitch into left field for a RBI base hit.
The Knights were able to cling to their one-run lead with the help of their bullpen, as Bryan Brown, junior Matt Goodyear and sophomore Evan Stobbs combined to give up just one hit from the fourth through the seventh inning.
With a strong showing from the relief corps, UCF was gift-wrapped two insurance runs in the top of the eighth. Placing two aboard for Vazquez, the first baseman skied a fly ball to center with two down. It would have been the final out of the inning, but outfielder Casey Frawley witnessed it glance off the top of his glove and fall behind him, allowing both runners to touch home.
Now claiming a 5-2 advantage, sophomore Brennan Dobbins entered as UCF's fifth pitcher in the home half of the eighth, but surrendered a leadoff walk and a two-run home run to Jeremy Cruz. The Hatters would later get runners at first and third with two outs, yet Hicks strolled in to toe the rubber and promptly induced Frank Florio to fly out to right on his very first offering to keep the Knights in the lead.
With another UCF reliever strong in the clutch, Rasinski took over in the ninth and found himself in trouble by walking the first hitter. A sacrifice bunt by Jeff Simpson got the tying run into scoring position, and Frawley touched first by way of an error.
That brought up Cruz, Stetson's leading home run hitter, but Rasinski did not back down with one out and Hatters at first and second. The freshman righty caught Cruz jumping early on a 2-2 pitch and all the right fielder could do was fly out to shallow center. One more power bat strode to the box in Aaron Crittenden and Rasinski dominated the at-bat, getting the DH to strike out on three pitches for the save.
UCF will now conclude the 2009 regular season at home in a very important Conference USA series with Houston Thursday-Saturday. Game times are 6:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. Fans attending the series will be able to participate in a texting promotion to win a pair of airline vouchers on Allegiant Air.
Call the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000 for information on how to purchase tickets for UCF's final three regular season games against the Cougars. 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 - 20-32 Overall
Stetson - 26-27 Overall
WP: Bryan Brown (1-8), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
LP: Travis Stortz (0-2), 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
SV: Jordan Rasinski (1), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
- The game against the Hatters was a makeup affair after the two clubs were rained out on March 31. It also was televised by Bright House Sports Network, the third and final UCF game of 2009 to appear on the network.
- The six hits by Stetson tied a season-low by a UCF opponent.
- UCF now leads the all-time series with the Hatters, 65-48.
- Head coach Terry Rooney was an assistant coach at Stetson from 2002-03, and now owns a 3-0 record against his former club.
- The Knights' infield turned two double plays Tuesday night.
- Starter Austin Hudson finished with 3.0 innings of work, giving up two runs with one strikeout.