May 9, 2014
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Dan Forcella
UCFKnights.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Eric Skoglund continued his stellar junior campaign on Friday, leading the no. 26 UCF baseball team to a 10-0 victory over visiting Presbyterian in the first of a three-game non-conference series at Jay Bergman Field.
Skoglund (9-1), who leads the American Athletic Conference with 86 strike outs, tied a career best as he fanned 11 batters, while allowing just three hits and walking none in eight innings of shutout baseball.
Skoglund was very good tonight, Head Coach Terry Rooney said after the game. He's been great on Fridays, giving us a chance to win every Friday night, but I thought tonight his stuff was good. In particular, I thought his command was very good. When you see him pitch all the time you know when he has 'it' and when he has to battle through it. From a command standpoint, he was very good.
The UCF (31-19) offense gave Skoglund room to work with early, putting up three runs in the bottom of the first. Derrick Salberg and JoMarcos Woods led things off with a pair of singles, and the Knights loaded the bases when Erik Barber reached first on a sac bunt that turned into a fielder's choice.
James Vasquez then walked to score Salberg, which gave UCF a 1-0 lead over Presbyterian (16-32-1). The Knights made it 3-0 when Jordan Savinon drove in a pair with a single to center field.
When you look back at the last few months, Jordan Savinon has had as many clutch hits as anyone on our team, Rooney said. When we've needed big hits, Jordan Savinon has gotten those hits for us. He did a great job.
The Knights extended their lead to 5-0 with single runs in the second and fourth innings. Woods reached on an error and came around to score on a single by Barber in the second, while Brooks Morgan led off the fourth with a single and scored when Woods reached on an error by the Presbyterian second baseman.
The flood gates really opened in the bottom of the seventh when the Knights put a five-spot on the board. UCF batted around with five hits, highlighted by Tommy Williams' 11th home run of the season, a hit by pitch, and a walk to put the game virtually out of reach for Presbyterian at 10-0.
Skoglund, who finished off the eighth with his 11th strikeout of the night, was relieved by Robby Howell for the ninth. Howell made quick work of the Blue Hose, striking out two, while putting Presbyterian down in order to give the Knights the 10-0 victory.
UCF scored 10 runs on 10 hits and one error, while Presbyterian was shutout with three hits and two errors. Skoglund improved to 9-1 with the win, while Chandler Knox fell to 6-7 with the loss on the mound.
The Knights and the Blue Hose will return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. for Citronaut Day at Jay Bergman Field. The first 250 fans in attendance (opens at 2:30 p.m.) will receive a free Citronaut t-shirt.
To keep up with the UCF baseball team on social media be sure to follow the Knights on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.