May 11, 2011
| UCF vs. Bethune-Cookman May 11, 2011 |
| From Orlando, Fla. | |||||
| Team | R | H | E | ||
| B-CU | 1 | 6 | 2 | ||
| UCF | 8 | 6 | 0 | ||
WP: Sedlock (1-0), 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
LP: Durapau (1-4), 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
SV: None
Game-Changing Moment
Only in the first inning, UCF was ahead 1-0 and had the bases loaded with two outs for Ryan Breen. Working the count in his favor at 2-0, the left fielder crushed a three-run double off the wall in right-center to make it a four-run inning. The Knights never looked back en route to the win.
Three Stars
First: UCF LF Ryan Breen, 1-for-2, 3-run 2B, R, 2 BB
Second: UCF SP Johnny Sedlock, WP, 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K
Third: UCF RP Alex Besaw, 2.0 hitless innings, 2 K
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Suffering through a 90-minute weather delay before first pitch, UCF struck for four first-inning runs capped off by Ryan Breen's three-run double to guide the home team to an 8-1 win against Bethune-Cookman (32-22) Wednesday. The Knights will now take a 30-19 record into a key Conference USA series at UAB this weekend.
"It was important to play well and get off to a good start because we have eight games in 11 days," said head coach Terry Rooney. "So if our guys give everything they have got for those eight games then good things are going to happen, and today was a good start."
The Knights played error-free baseball for the fourth-straight game, a feat that had not been accomplished since March 16-20, 2004. They entered the week ranked 25th in the nation (out of 300 teams) with a .976 fielding percentage.
At the plate, UCF was aided by B-CU pitchers totaling nine walks, while the Knights' staff of seven pitchers held the Wildcats to six hits and just two walks, striking out eight. Johnny Sedlock (1-0) got the 3.0-inning victory in his first start of the season, not permitting a runner to touch home and giving up only two hits.
UCF took advantage of three walks in the first inning by freshman Montana Durapau, plating four runs thanks to a RBI groundout from Derek Luciano and a massive three-run double off the right-center wall by Breen.
The combination of Sedlock and reliever Alex Besaw cruised through the Wildcats. The duo worked 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just two hits, walking one and striking out three. But in the sixth, B-CU immediately put together a rally against D.J. Hicks, placing runners at the corners with no outs. Yet the righty limited the damage to just one run on a wild pitch and UCF remained ahead at 4-1.
Looking to answer in the home half, UCF filled the bags with one out when relief pitcher Jairo Acevedo plunked Erik Hempe and issued free passes to Breen and Austin Johnston. In stepped Julio Morales who promptly walked Darnell Sweeney to bump the lead to 5-1, however a 3-2-3 double-play ball put an end to the Knights' scoring threat.
Finally in the eighth, UCF put it away with some small ball and a pair of Bethune-Cookman errors. Opened up with a four-pitch walk to Breen, Johnston laid down a sac bunt that pitcher Anthony Stokes threw away to first. Sweeney followed suit with a perfect squeeze bunt and beat out the throw for a RBI single, and looking to get in on the act, Ronnie Richardson laid down a sacrifice bunt as well to place two in scoring position with one out. The lead stretched to 7-1 on an error by catcher Peter O'Brien that enabled Johnston to score, and Hicks finished off the three-run eighth with a sacrifice fly to deep center, driving in Sweeney for the 8-1 victory.
The Knights will resume C-USA play with its trip UAB for a three-game series Friday-Sunday.
Game Notes
Bethune-Cookman - 32-22 Overall
UCF - 30-19 Overall
-Johnny Sedlock (3.0), Alex Besaw (2.0), D.J. Hicks (1.0), Matt Collins (1.0), Bryan Brown (1.0), Nick Cicio (0.2) and Ronnie Richardson (0.1) all saw time on the hill Wednesday. Cicio and Richardson combined in the ninth for two strikeouts.
-Beau Taylor was moved up to the No. 2 hole and went 2-for-4. He previously was hitting in the No. 9 spot.
-UCF has now won seven-straight games against Bethune-Cookman.