Feb. 28, 2010
| UCF vs. Siena Feb. 28, 2010 |
| From Orlando, Fla. | |||||
| Team | R | H | E | ||
| Siena | 8 | 12 | 0 | ||
| UCF | 10 | 13 | 3 | ||
WP: Bryan Brown (1-0), 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
LP: John Kellog (0-1), 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
SV: Matt Manning (1), 3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Game-Changing Moment
With Siena getting on the scoreboard in innings four through eight, it was going to take a big hit to try and put the Saints away. And Sunday it came from Beau Taylor. With two outs in the sixth and UCF clinging to a 7-6 lead, Shane Brown was plunked to get aboard. Taylor then strode to the dish and took Ivan Lama deep to right for his third homer of the year.
Three Stars
First Star: C Beau Taylor, 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R and the game-winning RBI on a two-run homer
Second Star: DH Chris Taladay, 3-for-4, 3 R, came one shy of tying the UCF record with three doubles in the game
Third Star: CF Ronnie Richardson, 2-for-5, 4 RBI, drove in UCF's final run in the eighth
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Freshman Chris Taladay pounded out three doubles, classmate Ronnie Richardson drove in four and sophomore Beau Taylor belted a key two-run homer in the sixth as UCF earned the sweep of Siena with a 10-8 win Sunday. It was the Knights' second-straight sweep to open 2010 as they improved to 6-1 on the year.
"The pitchers are doing a great job, the hitters are getting the job done in key situations and I think we're playing well," said Richardson. "Today my teammates got on base to put me into the situation to drive in a couple runs."
Richardson finished 2-for-5 with four RBI for a squad that recorded six doubles and a homer against the Saints (1-7). Taladay had three of those two-baggers, which was one shy of the UCF single-game record, while Taylor stretched his hitting streak to 10 games dating back to 2009 by going 3-for-5.
For the fifth time this year, the Knights got on the board in the opening inning, with Darnell Sweeney ripping an offering from Nicco Stento to left field. Shane Brown immediately followed by sending the first pitch into left for a RBI double.
The second inning also proved costly for Stento, where he hit Chris Duffy and walked Austin Johnston. Add in a balk and both runners moved into scoring position, setting up Taladay who perfectly placed a bloop double inside the line in right to score one. After a pitching change, another HBP loaded the bases, and Richardson took advantage by sending an outside pitch the opposite way into left for a two-run single.
Although UCF starting pitcher Nick Cicio sailed through the first three innings, he struggled in the fourth, walking the bases loaded to start it up. The lefty did secure the next out only to see the Saints score three times, then tie it up on a two-out error.
Each team traded a run before the Knights strode to the dish in the bottom of the fifth. Started with Brown's 36th career HBP, Taylor singled up the middle and traveled to second on the throw that tried to beat Brown to third. Duffy would then come through on a 2-2 pitch, lacing an outside pitch to left for a double, giving UCF a 7-5 lead.
Siena would not go away, adding one in the sixth to cut its deficit in half. However Brown and Taylor returned with two outs, as Brown was hit once again with two outs and Taylor launched a two-run homer into the construction area of the right-field deck, bringing the UCF advantage to 9-6.
One more unearned run for the Saints kept them close in the seventh, but Richardson fired back with a two-out RBI single, plating Taladay who reached on his third double.
The scoring trend continued when Siena brought in one more in the eighth, its fifth-straight inning where it scored at least one, yet the Saints saw Matt Manning escape a huge jam by inducing Gary DerHagopian to ground into a fielder's choice with the bases juiced to keep UCF ahead 10-8.
Manning would have to do it again in the ninth, as he stranded runners at second and third with two down by getting Anthony Giansanti to fly out to center, earning his second-career save.
With the weekend in the rear-view mirror, the Knights look ahead to a five-game week when they host Duquesne Tuesday at 4 p.m., North Florida Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Central Michigan Friday-Sunday.
Season tickets for the 2010 campaign are currently on sale. To purchase tickets, call 407-823-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com. And for the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com and become a follower of the Knights on Twitter and Facebook.
Game Notes
Siena - 1-7 Overall
UCF - 6-1 Overall
-Shane Brown (twice), Chris Duffy (twice), Austin Johnston and Kevin Vasquez were all hit by a pitch Sunday, as UCF tied a school record for most hit by pitches in a game.
-UCF once again had double-digit hits, finishing with 13 against the Saints. For the series, the Knights racked up 38 hits.
-Chris Duffy's hitting streak reached eight games, while Jonathan Griffin stretched his to seven games.
-Through two weeks of the season, a total of eight Knights have batting averages of .308 or better, led by Chris Taladay (.500), Beau Taylor (.485) and Chris Duffy (.480).