ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF Baseball team notched its fourth-straight win Tuesday, defeating Bethune-Cookman 5-1 at the UCF Baseball Complex. The Knights now own the season series 2-0 and improve to 27-11 on the season.
It was an all-around team effort by the Black and Gold. The pitching staff gave up just two hits, the defense was error free, and seven different Knights had at least one hit. Head coach Greg Lovelady was pleased with the performance.
"We obviously pitched extremely well," Lovelady said. "Willy [Chris Williams] made one mistake that cost us a run, but other than that we just dominated. We didn't give them any free bases and the bullpen did what they've done all year. Offensively, I thought we were really good in the first four innings. We put pressure on, got guys on base, and got the big hits when we need them."
Starting pitcher Chris Williams one mistake was a ball left up in the zone that went for a solo home run in the top of the second. The wildcats wouldn't even notch another hit until the lead-off batter in the ninth beat the throw to first on a ball fielded deep in the hole by short stop Brennan Bozeman.
The Knights however, responded immediately to the home run, scoring two in the bottom half of the second. First baseman Rylan Thomas led off with a walk and then stole second. He scored when left fielder Kyle Marsh tripled down the left-field line before designated hitter Bryce Peterson followed with an RBI single.
UCF posted three more in the fourth. It was Peterson again who doubled home Thomas from first after he had reached on an error by the shortstop. Bozeman then looped a single to center field to score Peterson. Bozeman stole second, and then scored on a two-out single by catcher Anthony George.
Williams came back to retire the Wildcats in order in the fifth before giving way to the bullpen. Reliever Jason Bahr delivered three quick outs in the sixth before striking out three straight in the seventh, improving his team-best strikeout-total to 55 on the year.
Right hander Jordan Scheftz worked the eighth, notching two strikeouts of his own downing three batters in order before closer Bryce Tucker came on in the ninth. After an infield base hit by the lead-off man, Tucker slammed the door with two strikeouts and a fly ball to secure the victory.
UCF came into the game with the third-best team ERA in all of NCAA Division I at 2.52. The staff improved that mark to 2.48 after giving up just one run on two hits with zero walks and nine strikeouts against Bethune-Cookman.
Next up, UCF will host UConn April 21-23 for another key AAC series. Saturday's 1 p.m. game with the Huskies is part of the UCFastival activities surrounding the Knights spring football game. Click here to purchase tickets in advance or call 407-UCF-1000.
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