DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF baseball team extended its winning streak to four games on Tuesday night at Bethune-Cookman. Led by a starting pitcher JJ Montgomery's shutout performance over nearly six innings and 13 hits on offense, the No. 23 Knights beat the Wildcats 6-1 on the road.
"I thought it was the best game we've played all year," head coach Greg Lovelady said. "The offense did an unbelievable job tonight. We had something like 80-percent quality at-bats. We got on top of balls tonight. If we were playing at home without the wind blowing, we would've hit five home runs. I was impressed with what the offense did tonight.
"We played great defense and turned some double plays," Lovelady added. "JJ was phenomenal in his first career start. The bullpen came in and did its job. If we play like that, we have a chance to be really good."
Offensively, the Knights struck first with a pair of scores in the opening frame. Rylan Thomas drove in Ray Alejo on an RBI single. Later in the inning, Logan Heiser laced a delivery off the pitcher to let Dallas Beaver sprint in from third. Beaver tacked on another run in the fourth with an RBI sacrifice fly to the warning track. After Thomas came home on an error in the seventh, Matthew Mika added a pair of runs in the eighth with a double to gap in right.
Bethune-Cookman (3-6) started the game a leadoff single, but that was all Montgomery would allow the rest of his night. The junior tossed a gem in his first career start at UCF with a one-hitter over 5.2 innings of work with six strikeouts. The Wildcats managed to string together six hits over the final 3.1 innings, with one run in the eighth, but the UCF defense shut the door on any comeback bid. Bryce Tucker walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, only to pick him off during the next at-bat.
KEY STATS
No. 23 UCF (5-3) – 6, Bethune-Cookman (3-6) – 1
Winning pitcher: JJ Montgomery (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Alexis Herrera (0-2)
Top performers: JJ Montgomery (5.2 IP, 6 K, 1 H, 0 ER), Matthew Mika (3-5, 2 RBI, 1 2B), Rylan Thomas (2-5, 1 RBI) Tyler Osik (2-4, 1 R)
MORE STEALING
• UCF was perfect again on the basepaths with a 5-for-5 mark.
• Mika swiped a trio of bags for the second consecutive game.
• The Knights are now 32-of-33 when stealing this season.
• Alejo and Mika are tied for the team lead with eight steals.
OFFENSE BEATS THE WEATHER
• Playing in 21 MPH winds blowing in from center field, the Knights resorted to line drive singles.
• UCF racked up 13 hits on the night, starting with a bunt single from Alejo in the first.
• Mika picked up the lone extra base hit of the game with his double in the eighth.
• Thomas took his team-leading hit streak to six games.
UP NEXT
UCF will return to John Euliano Park for a three-game series this weekend against Wagner.
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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