JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF Baseball team bested Jacksonville 10-3 Saturday at John Sessions Stadium. The Knights came out swinging, scoring in each of the first four innings including a five-spot in the third.
Outfielder Kyle Marsh got the Knights going in the top of the first. With two outs, he launched the ball over the 405-foot fence in center field. In the second, third baseman Ryan Crile delivered a lead-off triple, dropping a high shot off of the left-center field wall before second baseman Matthew Mika brought him in with a chopper to short.
The Black and Gold really turned it on in the third, scoring five more runs to open up a 7-1 lead.
Putnam started the inning with a double and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hamblin. Putnam then scored the Knights third run on a wild pitch. Marsh and Thomas delivered back-to-back doubles and both scored on a two-out double by Mika.
Mika then stole third and right fielder Josh Moser walked, before catcher Anthony George added the fourth double of the inning for the Black and Gold, scoring Mika from third and Moser all the way from first.
UCF added home runs from Putnam to lead off the fourth and Thomas on the first pitch of the seventh.
Senior starter Juan Pimentel went 5 innings and gave up one run on seven hits, one strikeout, and one walk. Chris Williams, Jason Bahr, and Trent Thompson each threw one scoreless inning in relief before the dolphins managed to put together two runs against Andy Rohloff.
Eric Hepple then came on in relief in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded. He only needed 12 pitches to strike out back-to-back hitters and end the game.
Notable Knights
- UCF batters delivered 3 home runs (Marsh (3rd), Putnam (4th), & Thomas (5th), the Knights now have 20 total home runs in 2017
- Mika and Hamblin had one stolen base each, both improving to a team-high 9-9 stolen bases on the season
- Pimentel improves to 5-0, has earned the win in all five starts this season
- UCF combined for 5 doubles and 9 extra base hits
- 8-of-9 Knights had at least one hit in the game
The Knights and Dolphins return to John Sessions field again on Sunday Mar. 19. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Click here to follow the action via live stats or listen at
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