March 27, 2016
Final Stats
03-27-16 - UCF vs. Cornell - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The Knights totaled 20 hits on their way to a 16-0 victory on Championship Sunday to secure the series sweep of Cornell at UCF Baseball Complex. Junior outfielder Eli Putnam went 4-for-5 with seven runs driven in, while a 5-for-6 performance was registered by junior second baseman Ryan Crile, who added one RBI and scored five times.
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"We came out today, had great energy, put up a bunch of runs and hit well," Putnam said. "Everyone really is coming together as a group. We are really starting to click. Pitchers are starting to throw more strikes earlier in counts. The batters are battling with two strikes, putting the ball and challenging defenders. Collectively as a group, it was a great day for us."
The seven-RBI performance by Putnam was the first time a Knight accomplished the feat since Matt Diorio did it last year at Jacksonville (3/24/15). Crile tallied five hits, which was last registered by Tommy Williams, who had six base knocks at Bethune-Cookman (3/17/15).
The first win of the season was notched by junior Juan Pimentel (1-4), who combined with Sam Crocker, Chris Williams, Brad Rowley, Eric Hepple and Campbell Scholl to post the Knights' fourth shutout of the campaign.
"We just have to keep getting better," head coach Terry Rooney said. "I keep telling these guys is to keep working hard, doing the right thing and having a great attitude to remain confident. These guys have done that."
The Knights begin a four-game road trip on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. contest at Jacksonville, which is set to broadcast on ESPN3. UCF opens play in The American with a series at Memphis on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
The next home game for the Knights is on April 5 against No. 18 Florida Atlantic with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
Striking First
- The Knights put up three runs up on the scoreboard on a pair of hits in the first inning.
- After a walk and single by Ryan Crile, Luke Hamblin crossed the plate on a wild pitch, 1-0.
- A sac fly off the bat of Eli Putnam upped the lead to 2-0.
- Kam Gellinger, who went 3-for-3, recorded a double by hitting the gap in left center, which stretched the advantage to 3-0.
"Eli has been doing it all year. What a great job he has done. He is one of the best athletes on our team. He is fast and strong. Now, he is starting to put it all together. He and coach Klosty [Ryan Klosterman] have worked extremely hard. Eli has one of the most relentless work ethics on the team and is at our facility all the time."
-HC Terry Rooney
A Seven Spot
- UCF sent 12 batters to the plate and totaled seven runs in the fourth frame.
- A bases loaded single by Eli Putnam pushed across the first two runs.
- Sam Tolleson connected on his first homer of the year, a three-run shot, to put the Knights up, 8-0. It was the first round tripper for the redshirt senior since April 27, 2014.
- For the second time in the game, Gellinger notched a two bagger and scored on a single by Anthony George.
- The scoring for the Knights came to an end on a single to left center by Eugene Vazquez, who picked up a multi-hit game.
The Combined Shutout
- Juan Pimentel (1-4) earned his first win as a Knight after logging five innings and striking out six.
- The Miami native went five innings and fanned six batters.
- Relievers Sam Crocker, Chris Williams, Brad Rowley and Eric Hepple combined to keep the Big Red off the board and totaled another six strikeouts.
- Hepple struck out the side in the eighth inning.
"I was definitely excited to pitch on Sunday. I knew that we needed a quick tempo and someone that could throw strikes. Those are two things that I can do. I was happy to help the team get the win today."
-RHP Juan Pimentel