March 1, 2015
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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - An entertaining top-20 series came to a close Sunday with No. 15 UCF taking two of three games against No. 18 Ole Miss at the UCF Baseball Complex. After the Knights came through with a 3-2 win in the morning, the Rebels avoided a sweep with a 4-3 victory in the second game of the doubleheader with a run in the ninth inning.
All three games in the series featured one-run margins, with the Knights winning the opener on Friday in walk-off fashion, 5-4, on a single by senior JoMarcos Woods.
With the win in the morning, UCF (10-1) opened its season with a 10-0 record, marking its best start to a campaign in school history. The Knights will now take a 10-1 mark into a home-and-home clash with No. 2 Florida starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Orlando.
Sophomore righty Robby Howell threw 4 2/3 innings and recorded five strikeouts against Ole Miss (6-4), while sophomore righty Trent Thompson (0-1) threw 3 1/3 frames of relief with five strikeouts.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, a two-run bomb by senior right fielder Erik Barber jump-started the Knights' offense against Ole Miss (6-4). It was the third round tripper of the season for the Lakeland, Fla., native.
The Knights loaded the bases in the seventh on a single to center by freshman second baseman Kyle Marsh and a double down the left field line by senior first baseman James Vasquez. Senior left fielder JoMarcos Woods, the hero on Friday night, drew an intentional walk before a run-scoring groundout by senior shortstop Dylan Moore knotted the contest, 3-3.
In the ninth, Ole Miss took advantage of a leadoff single by Joe Wainhouse. It eventually loaded the bags where Sikes Orvis drew a walk to bring in the deciding run. Sophomore southpaw Drew Faintich delivered the final two outs to escape the jam, however the Knights were unable to even it back up in the home half.
Leading the Knights in the series finale, senior third baseman Tommy Williams and senior first baseman James Vasquez both had a pair of hits, while Barber collected two RBI. For the visitors, Holt Perdzock posted two hits and Orvis had two RBI.
The win for the Rebels was notched by Wyatt Short (2-1), who fanned four in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Tuesday's meeting with the Gators presented by Florida Hospital will be UCF's sixth game of the season against a ranked opponent. A capacity crowd is expected for the 6:30 p.m. start and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance - online or by calling 407-823-1000.
The teams competed a home-and-home series on Wednesday in Gainesville at 7 p.m. Next weekend, the Knights will host Columbia beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.