April 19, 2011
| UCF vs. FAU April 19, 2011 |
| From Orlando, Fla. | |||||
| Team | R | H | E | ||
| FAU | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| UCF | 12 | 16 | 0 | ||
WP: Hanson (3-1), 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
LP: Meiers (2-4), 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
SV: Sedlock (2), 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Game-Changing Moment
Following a top of the second where Ray Hanson struck out the side, UCF put up a three spot in the second highlighted by a Derek Luciano RBI double and a Ryan Breen two-run single and the Knights did not look back.
Three Stars
First: UCF DH D.J. Hicks, 3-for-5, 6 RBI, 2 2B, R
Second: UCF SP Ray Hanson, WP, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 5 K
Third: UCF RP Johnny Sedlock, SV, 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Wednesday Preview of the UF Game in PDF Format
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Complete Release in PDF Format
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After suffering through a 1:15 rain delay before first pitch, D.J. Hicks (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) set a career-high with six RBI in UCF's 12-0 shutout of Florida Atlantic Tuesday. Starting pitcher Ray Hanson (Long Beach, Calif.) picked up the win (3-1) by tossing 6.0 innings with five strikeouts to lift the Knights' record to 23-14.
"Last week we lost to them 3-2 and had some opportunities but didn't cash in. Today we made adjustments on (the same pitcher Jake Meiers) and that was good to see," said head coach Terry Rooney. "And obviously Ray Hanson did a tremendous job. I thought he was very focused and determined to get the job done. Overall it was a very good game."
Following Hanson's dazzling performance on the hill, Johnny Sedlock entered in the seventh and proceeded to get his second save his by limiting the Owls (23-14) to just two hits in the final three frames. It was the Knights' fourth shutout of the year, the most since the 2006 squad posted seven.
"(The weather delay) really didn't affect me at all. I just hung out in the locker room and stayed focus," said Hanson. "My last outing against Tulane left a sour taste in my mouth so I just wanted to get out there and show that I'm better than that and dominate. I felt like I did that tonight."
Hicks achieved his six RBI with a two-run double in the fourth, a three-run two-bagger in the fifth and a run-scoring single in the seventh. Right behind him in cleanup spot, Jonathan Griffin homered for the sixth time in his last eight games to give him 10 long balls on the season.
Aided by Hanson striking out the side in the top of the second, UCF responded with three runs in the home half to grab the lead. Thanks to a leadoff double from Chris Taladay, Erik Hempe pushed him to third with a single and Derek Luciano made it 1-0 with a double of his own down the right-field line. Now with two in scoring position, Ryan Breen delivered a single to center on the first pitch he saw to push it to 3-0.
And one inning later, Griffin took FAU starting pitcher Jake Meiers deep to left, punishing a 1-0 offering that has yet to land, bringing the UCF lead to 4-0.
That four-run cushion was in danger in the fourth where the Owls filled up the bags with one out vs. Hanson. Yet the righty settled down, getting Mark Nelson to pop up on the infield before striking out Mike Albaladejo to get out of harm's way.
With Hanson continuing to roll, the offense returned in the bottom of the fourth vs. reliever Ahmed Garcia and was sparked by a leadoff single by Travis Shreve. When Ronnie Richardson was plunked to get to first, Hicks cleared the bases with a double over the head of center fielder Nathan Pittman. And Hicks eventually scored on a RBI single produced by Griffin.
Now up 7-0, the defense helped out Hanson in the fifth, where Pittman lined a double to right but was caught trying to stretch into a triple as Breen relayed it to Shreve, who fired a rocket third where Luciano laid the tag down just in time.
With pitching and defense both keeping FAU at bay, the bats put it away in the bottom of the fifth. Facing a bases-loaded situation, Richardson came through with an RBI infield single, and Hicks once again delivered a huge blow, crushing a three-run double to left, pushing the advantage to 11-0. Not settled with just five RBI, Hicks completed the scoring in the seventh with a two-out RBI single to plate Austin Johnston.
Midweek action continues Wednesday when UCF hosts No. 5 Florida at 6:30 p.m.
Game Notes
FAU - 23-14 Overall
UCF - 23-14 Overall
-Travis Shreve stole his 20th base of the year in the fourth inning.
-With 23, senior Jonathan Griffin is one home run shy of breaking into UCF's all-time top-10, and he has racked up those homers in just over one and a half seasons as a Knight.
-The Knights turned two double plays vs. the Owls.
-UCF finished by doubling up FAU in hits, 16-8.
- D.J. Hicks (three), Jonathan Griffin (two), Darnell Sweeney (two) and Travis Shreve (two) each ended their evening with at least two hits.
-The 12-run win was the largest margin of victory for the Knights in the history of the series with FAU (UCF now leads the series 38-26).