Feb. 21, 2016
Final Stats
02-21-16 UCF vs. Siena - Game 3 - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF totaled double-digit runs for the third-consecutive game to start the season and completed the sweep of Siena with an 11-2 victory Sunday afternoon at the UCF Baseball Complex.
"Overall, the guys did a nice job," head coach Terry Rooney said. "There were a lot of different contributions on the mound and at the plate. It is not easy to win three games on a weekend because you have to play every pitch. The tone was set with the comeback on Friday night."
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The Knights registered 14 hits and were paced by freshman Matthew Mika with three base knocks and junior catcher Matt Diorio with a bases loaded double.
Freshman Thaddeus Ward earned the victory in relief by going 3.1 innings and striking out three. The UCF (3-0) staff totaled 11 strikeouts against Siena (0-3).
"Thaddeus [Ward] did a terrific job under tough circumstances and can play a lot of roles for us," coach Rooney said. "He came in, did a great job and threw strikes."
UCF welcomes Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday and North Florida on Wednesday with the first pitch in each game set for 6:30 p.m. Both contests serve as Dollar Dog and Soda Nights.
Speed at the Top
- Matthew Mika and Luke Hamblin each crossed the plate three times Sunday.
- Mika added three base hits in the contest, while Hamblin notched a pair.
- They combined to score 16 runs during the weekend and each added two stolen bases.
"Watching these guys play, it is unbelievable. If you get a base hit, you never know what is going to happen because these guys are flying around. It is something different and a lot of fun to watch. Coach [Ryan] Klosterman is always preaching to us to be aggressive on the base paths, make things happen and suffocate the defense."
-C Matt Diorio
Picking Up a Pair
- Luke Hamblin, Matt Diorio, Logan Heiser, Austin Griffin and Ryan Crile each added two hits.
- A pair of runs were also driven in by Heiser.
- Crile scored three runs along with Mika and Hamblin, while also swiping two bases in the game.
"Certainly offensively, we did a nice job and found a lot of different ways to score. There were a lot of different guys producing. Collectively, we were one unit."
-HC Terry Rooney
Pitching Performance
- Thaddeus Ward registered three strikeouts over 3.1 innings of work to notch his first career victory.
- Coach Rooney also saw relievers Trent Thompson, Chris Williams, Drew Faintich, Campbell Scholl and Harrison Hukari make appearances.
- Thompson provided two innings and a pair of strikeouts.
- The last three outs, all strikeouts, were notched by Hukari.
- Nick McCoy started, but threw only 21 pitches before being removed from the game with an undisclosed injury.
"I feel like it was a little better because I did not have to think about it. I was just thrown in there. I did not have enough time to be nervous. I just went out there and did what I had to do."
-RHP Thaddeus Ward
"With our staff, I am still trying to figure out roles and what guys can do. Late in the game, I did some matchups to see what we could potentially do. The command of the strike zone is essential as we move forward."
-HC Terry Rooney