March 13, 2015
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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF senior third baseman Tommy Williams accomplished one of the feats that every baseball player dreams of - hitting for the cycle - in the sixth-ranked Knights' 11-1 victory Friday over Fairfield. Williams singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, blasted a two-run homer in the second, delivered a run-scoring double in the fourth and came to the plate in the sixth inning and sent the ball down the right field line.
"In the last at-bat, I knew that I needed a triple. What went through my head is that I had to hit it down the line," Williams said. "Off the bat, I had an idea that I might be able to get to third and it was great that it worked out."
The North Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native slid safely into third base without a throw from the Stags. Williams finished 4-for-4 with four RBI and registered the first cycle by a Knight since Matt Horwath recorded the feat against Tulane (4/27/07).
A season-best night was also registered by freshman right-handed pitcher Cre Finfrock, who tossed a seven-inning one-hitter with 11 strikeouts. The last person to tally the same number of punch outs was 2014 American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Eric Skoglund, vs. Presbyterian (5/9/14). UCF (15-4) pounded out 17 hits in the contest.
Senior shortstop Dylan Moore continued his stellar start with a pair of two-run homers and a single to stretch his team-leading RBI total to 27, which ranks second nationally. Three base knocks were also picked up by senior center fielder Derrick Salberg and right fielder Erik Barber.
After leaving the bases loaded without producing a run in the first inning, UCF began a two-out rally in the second on a single through the right side by senior left fielder JoMarcos Woods. Moore connected on a homer to left, then following a single by Salberg, Williams curled a round tripper around the foul pole in left, 4-0.
The next batter, freshman clean-up hitter Kyle Marsh, drilled a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field. Back-to-back jacks were last accomplished by senior James Vasquez and Erik Barber against Temple (3/30/14).
UCF tacked on three more runs in the sixth frame to stretch the lead to 9-0. Moore connected on a homer that appeared to clear the palm trees past the fence in left. Salberg notched a single up the middle and scored on the Williams' triple.
In the seventh inning, Vasquez doubled down the right field line following a walk drawn by sophomore pinch hitter Matt Diorio. A groundout off the bat of Woods scored Vasquez, 11-1.
The final two frames were finished up by freshman righty Bradley Rowley, a teammate of Finfrock at Martin County High School. The Stuart, Fla., native recorded three strikeouts.
Fairfield (0-6) was paced by Jake Slapietro, who broke up the shutout and no-hit bid by Finfrock in the fifth with a homer to straight-away center. The loss was tagged to EJ Ashworth, who fanned three in 5.1 innings of work. The Stags' defense registered four double plays in the contest.
UCF continues its series with Fairfield on Saturday at 4 p.m. The first pitch of the finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
Single-game tickets for the 2015 baseball season are currently on sale by clicking here or calling 407-823-1000.