CORAL GABLES, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Guided by a two hitter from starting pitcher Cre Finfrock and the bullpen, the UCF baseball team notched its eighth shutout of the season on Wednesday night with a 4-0 win over Miami at Mark Light Field.
After falling 4-3 to the Hurricanes at John Euliano Park back on March 14, UCF head coach Greg Lovelady topped his former head coach Jim Morris in their final meeting in the regular season to even the season series.
"That was one of the best game we've played all year," Lovelady said. "I thought we did really well in all three phases. We scored four runs and knocked a bunch of hits. Cre was great. The bullpen made some big pitches when they were in some trouble. We played solid defense. Mika and Osik came up with some big hits in the ninth to pad the lead. I'm really proud of the guys. It's a good way to start the week."
In just his second start in two years, Finfrock delivered an inspired performance. The redshirt junior did not allow a hit over his five innings of work. The righty fanned a season-high seven batters, while issuing a trio of walks. Finfrock retired the final seven batters he faced, including striking out the side in the fourth. The pitching staffed backed up Finfrock to finish with 14 strikeouts on the night.
The Knights broke the deadlock in the sixth inning. Matthew Mika singled through the right side to lead off the inning, later reaching third on a stolen base. Logan Heiser drilled a 2-2 offering deep to center field for a sacrifice fly to bring in Mika.
KEY STATS
UCF (23-11) – 4, Miami (13-19) – 0
Winning pitcher: Cre Finfrock (3-0)
Losing pitcher: Cooper Hammond (1-2)
Top performers: Cre Finfrock (5 IP, 7 K, 0 H, 0 R), Bryce Tucker (1 IP, 3 K, 1 BB), Tyler Osik (1-5, 2 RBI), Matthew Mika (2-4, 1 RBI, 2 R), Logan Heiser (1-4, 1 RBI)
BULLPEN BRINGS IT
• After Finfrock made his exit, the Black and Gold sent four pitchers to the mound.
• Thad Ward and Eric Hepple fanned one in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
• Jordan Spicer bounced back with two strikeouts in the eighth.
• Miami loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. Bryce Tucker responded with three straight strikeouts to close out the game.
ADDING SOME INSURANCE
• UCF tacked on a trio of runs in the ninth inning to provide some insurance.
• Ray Alejo reached on a fielder's choice and made his way to second on a throwing error.
• After Rylan Thomas was intentionally walked, Mika drove in a Alejo on an RBI single.
• Tyler Osik brought in two more runs with a single up the middle during the next at-bat to make it 4-0.
NOTABLES
• The Knights have won five of their last 10 against the Hurricanes.
• The Black and Gold lead the country in shutouts.
• Matthew Mika, Tyler Osik or Rylan Thomas have registered an RBI in 30 of UCF's 34 games this season.
• The two hitter tied for the second fewest hits allowed by the Black and Gold this year.
• The Knights registered their 18th game with more than 10 strikeouts in 2018.
• Mika, Griffin Bernardo and Brody Wofford all registered multi-hit games.
• Osik's two-RBI outing was his sixth multi-RBI performance of the year.
• Finfrock posted the first start of his career without allowing a hit.
• The righty's seven punchouts were the most in a start since March 18, 2016, against Brown.
• The Knights now have 27 runs scored in the ninth inning this year.
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