ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF Baseball team defeated UConn 8-2 at the UCF Baseball Complex Sunday. With the win, the Knights capture the regular-season series two games to one and improve to 7-5 in conference play.
UCF came out firing on all cylinders, notching four-straight hits to lead off the opening frame. First baseman Rylan Thomas brought home the game's first run with an infield single to the hole between second and third. The UConn short stop tried to get the runner at second, but the throw was not in time.
Next, it was a pair of sacrifice flies from left fielder Kyle Marsh and designated hitter Max Wood that brought home a pair of runs. Finally, a two-out double down the left-field line by short stop Brennan Bozeman gave the Knights a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
All told, the Black and Gold scored four runs on five hits, giving freshman starter Joe Sheridan room to work. Sheridan would put together a quality start, going 6 innings and giving up two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts.
After the Knights had extended the lead to six, scoring a run in each of the third and fourth innings, UConn's only runs came in the fifth. A lead-off walk followed by a one-out bunt-single put a pair of Huskies runners on base. Sheridan made an ill-advised throw after fielding the bunt, allowing the runners to advance to second and third.
A ground out to first scored one run and a two-out single brought home another. Still with two outs and runners at the corners, the Huskies batter hit a sharp line drive that looked like it might bring in more, but Marsh made a diving catch in left-center to end the inning.
The Knights would get both runs back in the bottom half of the sixth, when right fielder Eli Putnam launched a two-run shot over the fence in center field. The round-tripper was his second of the series and fifth of the year.
Jordan Scheftz and Chris Williams each threw one inning in relief before closer Bryce Tucker came on in the ninth in a non-save situation. Tucker slammed the door, retiring all three hitters he faced, including two strikeouts.
Next up, the Knights host Memphis for a three-game series April 28-30. The series opens with Joe Skinner Knight on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The team will announce the total amount donated in its month-long fundraising effort to benefit the cancer research arm of Florida Hospital.
The Voice of the Knights, Marc Daniels will call all the action streaming live at UCFKnights.TV and on FM 96.9 The Game or fans can follow along via live stats. Click here or call 407-UCF-1000 to purchase tickets in advance.
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