March 6, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - It was another tough night for the UCF baseball team as it fell to No. 24 Miami, 5-0, at Alex Rodriguez Park on Wednesday. The Knights (7-6), who were looking for their third win in their last four road games against Miami, fell victim to a Hurricanes (12-2) pitching staff that limited the bats to just five hits.
Despite his third loss of the year, it was another gutsy effort from senior LHP Brian Adkins who made his third appearance at Alex Rodriguez Park in his four-year career. Already with eight innings pitched against the Hurricanes, Adkins limited the home team to just four hits and three runs with three strikeouts in five innings.
The Hurricanes jumped on the board in the first inning when first baseman David Thompson flipped a 1-0 pitch that rode the strong winds to right field for a two-run shot. Miami would plate another run in the fourth after two singles to make it 3-0.
In the sixth after Adkins exited the game, Miami took a 4-0 lead on a bases-loaded walk, but redshirt senior Chris Matulis did his job to strand the bases loaded with an inning-ending strikeout to minimalize the damage.
UCF's biggest chance to rally came in the eighth and ninth innings with a pair of runners on in each frame, but the Hurricanes used closers LHP AJ Salcines and RHP Eric Nedeljkovic to silence the Knights' hopes by nailing down the last four outs of the game.
Overall, Miami used five pitchers to limit the Knights to just five hits on the night. Hurricanes' starter Bryan Radziewski (1-0) was in the zone from the first pitch, not allowing a hit while striking out 11 Knights in five innings of work.
Seniors Chris Taladay and Erik Hempe were able to extend their hit streaks to six and five games, respectively, in the defeat.
The Knights will turn their attention to Jacksonville who pays a visit Friday (6:30 p.m.) and Saturday (4 p.m.) to the UCF baseball complex. On Sunday, UCF will head to Duval county to finish the three-game set with the Dolphins.
Season tickets can be purchased by calling 407-UCF-1000 or visit the baseball tickets page. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by visiting UCFAthletics.com and following the team on Twitter (@UCF_Baseball) and Facebook.