May 15, 2015
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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com
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TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - After hitting two homers at North Florida, UCF senior right fielder Erik Barber blasted two more round trippers and drove in four runs in the Knights' 12-9 victory at rival USF Thursday to open a three-game set. The Knights recorded 15 hits and jumped out to an 11-2 advantage in the fourth inning.
UCF (31-23, 10-12 The American) tied a season-best with four home runs, which included homers by seniors designated hitter Tommy Williams and catcher Jordan Savinon.
Senior right-handed pitcher Zach Rodgers threw five innings and struck out six, while scattering three hits to improve to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in league action. He joins Joseph Camacho (12-0) of Alabama State as the only pitchers in the country with a 10-0 or better record. The Knights also saw work from seniors Trent Thompson, Parker Thomas, Ryan Meyer and Harrison Hukari.
A three-hit contest with two RBI was tallied by senior center fielder Derrick Salberg. Multi-hit games with two runs driven in were registered by sophomore left fielder Eugene Vazquez, Barber, Savinon and Williams, while a pair of RBI were added by freshman second baseman Kyle Marsh.
Just like the previous matchup against USF ace Jimmy Herget when seniors Erik Barber and James Vasquez hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, UCF jumped on the righty early with a pair of two run shots. An infield base hit was beaten out by senior center fielder Derrick Salberg before Williams clocked his eighth round tripper of the year to left.
After Vasquez singled to right, Savinon connected on an opposite-field two-out homer to right, increasing the advantage to 4-0. It was the fourth round tripper of the season for the Clearwater, Fla., native.
The teams cleared the field for 107 minutes with thunder and lightning in the Tampa area before play resumed in the bottom of the first with Rodgers on the mound. The Glendale, Ariz., native recorded a pair of strikeouts for the Knights in his first frame of work.
To lead off the third inning, Barber delivered his team-leading 10th homer of the year for the Knights, increasing the advantage to 5-0.
After Rodgers gave up a two-out, two-run single, UCF responded by batting around to increase the advantage to 11-2. Sophomore left fielder Eugene Vazquez singled to left and senior shortstop Dylan Moore drew a four-pitch walk before Salberg delivered an RBI single to left. The bases were cleared on the second round tripper of the game for Barber with a blast to left.
The Knights continued to rally as Williams and Savinon drew walks prior to freshman second baseman Kyle Marsh driving them home on a double down the left field line.
Following a leadoff single by Vazquez and base knock by sophomore third baseman Kam Gellinger, a run-scoring fielder's choice stretched the advantage to 12-4.
USF scored five times on three hits in the ninth inning to cut the deficit to 12-9. The Bulls were led by two hit and two RBI games from Kevin Merrell and Andres Leal. The loss was handed to Herget (8-3), who went one inning and gave up four runs.
Due to the threat of inclement weather Friday night, the middle game of the series will start at 2 p.m. and carried on CBS Sports Network with freshman Cre Finfrock going up against Ryan Valdes. The finale is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.
The American Athletic Conference Championship is scheduled for May 19-24 in Clearwater, Fla., with the seeding to be determined.
5/14/15 at USF - Images by UCF Knights