Feb. 23, 2016
02-23-16 - UCF vs. Bethune-Cookman - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF stretched its win streak to start the season to four with a 12-7 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday at the UCF Baseball Complex. Junior left fielder Austin Griffin connected on a grand slam to cap the Knights' scoring in the eighth inning.
"I kind of did what I have been taught to do see it up and swing it," Griffin said. "What happened is that I ran into one and hit it a long way. Our whole offense is coming together right now and has scored 10-plus runs in each game. It is a team effort right now."
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The Knights tallied 13 hits in the contest led by two-hit performances by sophomore Logan Heiser, juniors Luke Hamblin, Brennan Bozeman and senior Sam Tolleson.
"The key to success for us early on is that these guys are playing as a team," head coach Terry Rooney said. "It may sound cliché, but that is something we have been trying to hammer home since the fall. Everybody doing whatever it takes to win, whether it is 12-7 or 1-0."
UCF concludes a five-game homestand on Wednesday against North Florida with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. The contest serves as the second of three Dollar Knights with hot dogs and soda available for one dollar at the concession stand.
Dynamite Deramo
- Andrew Deramo notched his first victory with 4.1 innings of work.
- The Panama City, Fla., native fanned four and yielded three runs.
- Juan Pimentel came on and provided 3.2 solid innings with two strikeouts.
- The final three outs were recorded by Harrison Hukari, who struck out a pair.
"I filled up the strike zone and know if I do that, then the defense is going to help me out. You have to slow the game down pitch by pitch. If you do that, then you are in good shape."
-RHP Andrew Deramo
"Deramo did a really good job for us to start the game. It was his first start out there and got into a little bit of a jam and just gave up one run. He settled in and did a nice job."
-HC Terry Rooney
First Inning Response
- After BCU took a 1-0 lead, UCF answered with a pair of runs on three hits.
- Matt Diorio drew a two-out walk prior to Logan Heiser singling through the left side .
- A base hit to left center brought the first run home before a balk put UCF in the lead, 2-1.
Batting Around
- The Knights struck for five runs on three hits to extend their advantage to 7-1 in the third frame.
- UCF loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single by Tolleson.
- After a RBI single by Brennan Bozeman, Kam Gellinger pushed two across with a single to left center.
- A wildcats error enabled for two more runs to score for the Knights.
"Coach [Ryan] Klosterman has been preaching about having quality at bats. If you look at the hits and runs, they are obviously important because you have to score. But even inside the game, there are so many tough outs and two-strike at bats. We are putting the balls in play and having clutch two-out hits."
-HC Terry Rooney