April 18, 2015
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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com
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NEW ORLEANS, La. (UCFKnights.com) - Senior righty Zach Rodgers tossed a three-hit shutout with a career-high 11 strikeouts in No. 15 UCF's 8-0 victory at Tulane Saturday. A solo homer by senior Derrick Salberg to start the third inning provided the Knights' offense with early confidence, while a five-run ninth put the game out of reach.
"Zach did a terrific job for us and it was a great team win," head coach Terry Rooney said. "There were a lot of great quality at bats throughout the entire day and we played solid defense. Overall, it was a tremendous team win."
The gem thrown by Rodgers (7-0) was his first shutout as a Knight and his third-straight complete game, where he has fanned a total of 34 hitters and allowed two earned runs. Ben Lively was the last UCF player to register a shutout on the road (at East Carolina - 5/16/13).
"I filled up the zone. It is hard to be a hitter when a guy keeps coming at you with strikes," Rodgers said. "I tried to keep my tempo up throughout the game and throw a lot of strikes."
The Knights (26-14, 5-6 The American) provided Rodgers with a 2-0 lead before he took the mound. Senior first baseman James Vasquez recorded an RBI infield single, while freshman second baseman Kyle Marsh executed a squeeze for the second run of the frame.
The Salberg homer, his second of the season, hit the top of the wall and caromed over the right-field fence on the second pitch of the third inning. The Knights' dugout erupted, which set the tone for the rest of the game.
Rodgers continued to dazzle with five punch-outs looking and only one lead-off runner for Tulane (23-15, 5-6 The American) reaching base.
With the Knights ahead 3-0, freshman catcher Logan Heiser started off the ninth inning with a ground-rule double down the left field line. A triple was legged out by senior left fielder JoMarcos Woods to right.
After a walk was drawn by senior shortstop Dylan Moore, Salberg put the Knights up 5-0 on a sac fly to center. Vasquez doubled in a run with a shot down the right field line, then Marsh drove in a pair with a single to left, 8-0.
The loss was given to Emerson Gibbs (3-2), who fanned six hitters in eight innings, while Dan Rankin threw the ninth. Hunter Williams registered two of the Green Wave's three hits.
The rubber match of the series is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The Knights return home on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. to host North Florida in the final Dollar Dog Knight of the season. Single-game tickets for the 2015 baseball season are currently on sale by clicking here or calling 407-823-1000.