ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF Baseball team shutout Jacksonville 4-0 at the UCF Baseball complex Friday. Pitcher Robby Howell threw all nine innings for the home team, notching his first-career shutout.
"In the bullpen [pregame] I didn't have my best stuff," Howell said. "I kind of just cleared it when I left the pen and told myself I was going to come out here and compete with my team. I was going against another good arm and I've really been looking forward to going out and fighting against someone like that."
Howell did more than fight, he dominated, retiring every batter he faced through the first six innings. It wasn't until the top of the seventh, that a one-out single broke up his shot at a perfect game. Howell battled right back, getting the next hitter to fly out to left.
"He really did a great job tonight," UCF head coach Greg Lovelady said of Howell's performance. "He was really fun to watch. He cruised, got ahead a lot, forced weak contact and our defense played a great game behind him."
It was clear the defense fed off of Howell's start. In the top of the fourth, short stop Kam Gellinger made a play ranging to his right that kept the no hitter going. He scooped a ball in the hole behind third and made a throw on the run across his body, getting the runner at first.
Later in the seventh, after Howell gave up his first hit, left fielder Kyle Marsh made a running catch against the wall near the left field foul pole. His effort held the Dolphins runner on first base, and stifled any momentum the visitors may have hoped to generate.
Howell would give up another single in the seventh before finishing the inning with a fly ball. He then retired three-straight hitters in the eighth. He got two quick outs in the ninth, gave up one more single, and recorded the game's final out on a fly ball to center field.
All told, Howell faced 30 batters through nine innings, and gave up three hits. He threw just 95 pitches, tied his own single-game career-best seven strikeouts and did not issue any walks. He improves to 4-0 on the season with a 2.01 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and only seven walks.
The Knights head to Jacksonville for the next two games of the series this weekend. First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 7 p.m. with Sunday's game slated to begin at 1 p.m.
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