ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After knocking off the Cougars in game one, the UCF baseball team dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 11 Houston Saturday. The series-deciding finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at the UCF Baseball Complex.
The game appeared to be a pitchers duel until Houston broke through in the fifth inning, when the lead-off hitter wrapped a double to the gap in left center. The runner advanced to third on a deep fly ball to left, before a fly ball to right set up an opportunity to score.
The runner barreled for home, as right fielder Josh Moser threw to the plate. His toss was just off the mark, and the game's first run was on the board.
Houston added two more in the fifth, after another lead-off double was followed by a strike out and a two-run home run to left. The Cougars came looking for more, as the next batter singled and tried to steal second. But catcher Logan Heiser was on the money with the throw down to second for out number two, before a fly ball to right ended the half inning.
Down 3-0, UCF refused to go away, as designated hitter Eli Putnam lead off the seventh with a base hit.
He promptly stole second and continued to third after the throw from the Cougar catcher missed its mark and dribbled into center field. Heiser sent the very next pitch through the left side for an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Black and Gold tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth as Putnam delivered a one-out double down the left field line. After the second out, outfielder Bryce Peterson added a pinch-hit single through the left side, moving Putnam to third.
With runners on the corners and two outs, third Baseman Brooks Morgan came up just a few feet short of heroics. Representing the winning run, he sent a blast all the way to the wall in center field, but the Houston outfielder was able to make the catch on the warning track to end the game.
Senior starter Juan Pimentel was charged with his second loss of the season and second baseman Matthew Mika saw a 13-game hitting streak come to an end after going 0-for-3 with a walk.
Putnam was 3-for-4 and stole two bases while sophomore Chris Williams dealt three shut-out innings in relief, facing just 10 batters.
Both clubs are now 1-1 in American Athletic Conference play with the Cougars improving to 20-6 overall and the Knights dropping to 21-7.
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