March 5, 2011
| UCF vs. Dartmouth March 5, 2011 |
| From Orlando, Fla. | |||||
| Team | R | H | E | ||
| Dartmouth | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| UCF | 8 | 14 | 0 | ||
WP: Lively (2-0), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
LP: Hendricks (0-1), 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
SV: Hicks (1), 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Game-Changing Moment
Only up 2-0 in the sixth, a fielding error opened up a three-run inning that put the win away for the Knights. Following the miscue, Chris Taladay singled, Ryan Breen had a RBI double and D.J. Hicks sent a two-run single up the middle to make it 5-0.
Three Stars
First: UCF DH/RP D.J. Hicks, SV, 3.0 IP, 7 K, 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Second: UCF 2B Travis Shreve, 4-for-5, RBI, 2 R, 3 SB
Third: UCF RP Ben Lively, WP, 6.0 IP, 0 R, 3 K
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - In game one of a doubleheader Saturday, UCF baseball (9-1) secured the series victory over Dartmouth in an 8-0 win. Game two of the twin-bill is scheduled to begin at approximately 5:15 p.m.
In his second-collegiate start, freshman Ben Lively tossed 6.0-scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 on the year, striking out three and allowing just four hits. D.J. Hicks relieved him in the seventh and proceeded to strike out five of the first six batters he faced. He would go on to post seven strikeouts to set a career-high, and grab the three-inning save. The righty also served as the designated hitter and had a key two-run single in the sixth.
UCF finished by outhitting the Big Green (0-2), 14-5.
Lively also was helped out by some defense in the fourth. With the bases empty and two outs, Jeff Keller lined a double to left-center and tried to stretch it into a triple, yet witnessed Ronnie Richardson hit shortstop Darnell Sweeney with the relay, who in turn fired a rocket to third where Derek Luciano laid the tag down to end the inning.
At the plate, Richardson extended his hitting streak to nine games in a 2-for-4 performance, while Hicks and Luciano each stretched their streaks to eight games. Also at the dish, Travis Shreve was 4-for-5 with three stolen bases.
A pair of hits from Shreve and Richardson against righty Kyle Hendricks jump-started the offense in the bottom of the first, and UCF quickly secured a 1-0 lead on a sac fly from Sweeney. Finishing off the inning, Jonathan Griffin delivered a RBI groundout to double it to 2-0.
That lead barely held up in the top of the second when Lively retired the first two only to have Ennis Coble notch an infield single off Lively's glove. Two walks later and the bases were loaded, yet the righty bunkered down to strike out David Turnbull.
Both teams reached the bottom of the fifth with the Knights still ahead, 2-0, and UCF wasted a perfect opportunity at increasing is lead when the first two batters reached but were stranded thanks to a failed sac bunt, a caught stealing and a 1-3 putout.
However just as they have all year long, the Knights kept coming and finally took advantage of its chances in the sixth. With Mitch Horacek coming out of the pen, an error opened the door for a three-run inning which featured a RBI double from Ryan Breen and a two-run single by Hicks.
Two innings later and UCF clinched it in the eighth as Shreve drove in Hicks and Richardson sent a two-run single up the middle with the infield playing in to stretch it to 8-0.
Game Notes
Dartmouth - 0-2 Overall
UCF - 9-1 Overall
-UCF's defense once again did not commit an error, and has a .979 fielding percentage through 10 games.
-Travis Shreve's three stolen bases moved his season total to eight.
-Game time was just 2:12.