ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – For the first time since 2006, the UCF baseball team posted back-to-back shutouts. On Saturday night, the No. 24 Knights blanked Savannah State 6-0 at John Euliano Park to clinch the weekend series.
UCF (3-3) starting pitcher Joe Sheridan tossed six shutout innings, as the Black and Gold recorded a new season-high 15 strikeouts. On offense, UCF matched its season high in hits and runs with nine and six, respectively.
"I thought we took a small step forward," head coach Greg Lovelady said. "Obviously the pitching staff with back-to-back shutouts in this day and age, that's not an easy thing to do. Justin Parker has done a tremendous job of preparing these guys. Joe was phenomenal again. Offensively, we did some good things. We worked some more walks. I saw some improvement. We're not anywhere close to as good of a team as were going to be."
Sheridan found his groove early with a three strikeouts in the opening frame. The Tigers (2-4) struggled to find an answer to the sophomore's pitching. The native of Oviedo did not allow a hit until fifth inning and picked off the batter that broke up his no-hitter. In the sixth, Savannah State had runners on the corners with one out, but the UCF hurler fired back to close his night with two strikeouts. Sheridan finished the game with a career-high nine punchouts.
The Knights were led offensively by five combined hits from Rylan Thomas and Brody Wofford. With a 1-0 lead in the third inning, catcher Dallas Beaver singled to left to plate Ray Alejo from third. Brandon Hernandez added to the advantage in the sixth on an RBI single to right. Later in the inning, the junior from Royal Palm Beach darted for home on a chopper to the mound by Alejo to make it 4-0. UCF added a pair of insurance runs off Savannah State miscues in the eighth.
Six shutout for the Sheriff ??
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) February 25, 2018
Here's what he had to say after the game ?? #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/huGTxdhfrG
Sheriff deals another strikeout!
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) February 25, 2018
That's 7 through four ??
UCF 2, SSU 0 pic.twitter.com/ghFmkv2rDu
KEY STATS
No. 24 UCF (3-3) – 6, Savannah State (2-4) – 0
Winning pitcher: Joe Sheridan (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Alex Wright (0-2)
Top Performers: Joe Sheridan (6 IP, 9 K, 4 H, 0 ER), Rylan Thomas (3-5, 1 R), Brody Wofford (2-4, 1 R)
SHUTOUT STREAK
• The Knights extended their streak of shutout innings to 23, dating back to the fourth frame at Stetson on Tuesday.
• UCF has struck out 35 batters during that time span.
• The pitching staff has issued just six walks.
OUT OF THE PEN
• Lovelady turned to Eric Hepple, Thad Ward and Bryce Tucker for the final three innings on Saturday.
• Savannah State mustered just one runner on base against the UCF relievers.
• The trio did not waste many pitches. Combined, 27 of their 39 offerings were strikes – Hepple (11-18), Ward (7-9) and Tucker (9-12).
• The UCF bullpen has 2.14 ERA with 31 strikeouts and just five runs against in 21.0 innings of action this season.
NOTABLES
• The Knights are now 5-0 against Savannah State, with a chance to record their second sweep against the Tigers on Sunday.
• Bernardo tallied his first career double at UCF.
• UCF opened the scoring in the first without recording a hit – three walks and an error. Chandler Robertson scored on a walk with the bases loaded.
• In the eighth, Bernardo trotted in on a wild pitch and Thomas scored on an error by the SSU right fielder.
• The last time the Knights posted back-to-back shutouts was during the 2006 season against USF and ECU.
Oh, B!
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) February 25, 2018
It's 3-0 ?? pic.twitter.com/CaUR3ToGOT
??????
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) February 25, 2018
B flies home on a chopper to the pitcher!
UCF 4, SSU 0 pic.twitter.com/dzplN9IFYH
UP NEXT
The Knights will send Jordan Spicer to the mound in the series finale. The junior will face righty Caleb Hill. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at John Euliano Park.
DON'T MISS THE ACTION
Season and single-game tickets for UCF Baseball are on sale. Featuring a 36-game home schedule, John Euliano Park is set to host some of the best collegiate baseball in the country. For more information on tickets call 407-823-1000 or log on to ticketmaster.com.
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