March 1, 2016
03-01-16 - UCF vs. Florida - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - After UCF registered a three-run third inning to tie No. 1 Florida, 3-3, the Knights were unable to capitalize on the momentum and fell to the Gators, 9-5, on Tuesday. The third-largest crowd in program history of 3,831 filed into the UCF Baseball Complex to watch the matchup.
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"The difference in the game is that we gave them too much," head coach Terry Rooney said. "When you are playing great teams, the difference is that you can't give them anything. We gave them eight free passes [6 walks and two hit batters] tonight. You can't give great teams more opportunities then they already have."
"Florida has some really good arms. We made some really good adjustments and put up five runs. Got some things going and did some nice things offensively."
Junior center fielder Luke Hamblin paced the Knights with three hits, while driving in a pair of runs were juniors Brennan Bozeman and Austin Griffin. A run-scoring ground out cut the deficit to 9-5 in the ninth inning off the bat of junior second baseman Ryan Crile.
The two-game set between the Knights (6-3) and Gators (8-1) continues on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. start in Gainesville. The contest airs on SEC Network+ and a free audio stream can be found on UCF Knights All-Access.
Fantastic Fans
- An announced attendance of 3,831 came out to the UCF Baseball Complex.
- It was the third-largest crowd in program history behind last year's Top-10 matchup and Florida State (3/11/14) .
- The standing-only crowd filled up both berms down the lines and along the top of the outfield fence.
Three in the Third
- After Florida took a 3-0 lead, the Knights responded with three runs on four hits to tie the contest in the third inning.
- Singles from Kam Gellinger and Luke Hamblin began a one-out rally.
- An RBI double down the right field line by Brennan Bozeman pushed the first run across.
- Austin Griffin delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single up the middle to knot the contest.
"You only come back if you have confidence. It starts with confidence and making adjustments. We did a great job at that offensively."
-HC Terry Rooney
Noting the Gators
- Nick Horvath picked up his first win of the season by logging 2 2/3 innings and fanning two.
- Three hits were registered by Dalton Guthrie, Buddy Reed and Jonathan India, who blasted a solo homer.
- A total of three runs were driven in Jeremy Vasquez, who is the brother of former Knight James Vasquez, to pace the Gators.