March 3, 2010
| UCF vs. North Florida March 3, 2010 |
| From Orlando, Fla. | |||||
| Team | R | H | E | ||
| North Florida | 13 | 17 | 1 | ||
| UCF | 6 | 5 | 0 | ||
WP: George Lott (1-0), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LP: Chase Bradford (1-1), 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
SV: None
Game-Changing Moment
Holding a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth, UNF had the bases loaded with one out. Andrew Hannon came up and sent a grounder to short for a potential double play. But Hannon was ruled safe at first on a very tight play to continue the inning, where the Ospreys would plate five more runs to capture the win.
Three Stars
First Star: UNF RF Justin Preckajlo, 3-for-4, 5 RBI, 2 HR
Second Star: UNF RP Michael Kelly, 3.0 IP, 4 K, stopped UCF's momentum in the first inning
Third Star: UNF SS Andrew Hannon, 4-for-5, 3 R, 2 2B
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - A six-run eighth inning enabled North Florida to take down UCF, 13-6, Wednesday in Orlando. The Knights held a 5-4 lead through the first inning but were unable to hold on as they fell to 7-2 on the season.
Shane Brown and Jonathan Griffin each produced two hits, three RBI and a homer during a cold night against the Ospreys (3-5).
UCF had to play from behind for the second-straight day as UNF plated four runs in the first inning even though starting pitcher Brennan Dobbins struck out the side.
Just like its 10-2 come-from-behind win over Duquesne Tuesday, though, UCF erased the deficit quickly. In their first trip up to the plate, the Knights earned walks by Ronnie Richardson and Darnell Sweeney, and Brown took advantage by launching a three-run homer to the upcoming right-field deck.
Now down a run, Beau Taylor sent a single to right and the first-inning comeback was complete thanks to Griffin's mammoth two-run shot over the batter's eye wall in center.
The Ospreys would get a run in the third to tie it up, but the bullpens took charge until the seventh when UNF's Preston Hale added a sac fly to retake the lead. UCF had a great chance for a big inning when it batted in the home half with Michael Holmes leading off with a walk and traveling to second on a wild pitch. Righty Casey Medlen struck out the next two Knights yet did load the bases on a HBP and another walk, then issued a free pass to Griffin on a 3-2 offering to give the Black and Gold a run without it recording a hit.
UCF reliever Chase Bradford would enter for his fifth inning of work, however was greeted with a one-out solo homer from Justin Preckajlo. The bullpen added three walks immediately after the long ball, and UNF pushed across six runs, capped off by a three-run home run from Hale, for a 12-6 lead. The Ospreys tacked on one more in the ninth to seal their victory.
The Knights will now hold a Thursday practice before welcoming Central Michigan to town for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
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
North Florida - 3-5 Overall
UCF - 7-2 Overall
-Both teams combined for nine runs in the first inning even though all six outs in the frame were strikeouts.
-The loss ended UCF's eight-game home winning streak.
-Beau Taylor's hitting streak stretched to 11 games, however Chris Duffy's nine-game streak came to an end.