ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF pitcher Chris Williams spent the first two weeks of the 2019 season cheering on his teammates from the dugout. On Saturday night at John Euliano Park, the redshirt senior made his debut in stellar fashion, tossing a gem in the Knights’ 3-0 victory over Jacksonville to even the weekend series.
Williams was in midseason form, tossing six shutout innings against the Dolphins. He finished with eight strikeouts, one shy of his career high, while allowing just one hit and one walk. After seeing a runner reach in the first and second innings, Williams retired the side in order in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
The righty was in control, throwing 58 strikes out of 80 pitches. He faced just two three-ball counts all night.
Offensively, UCF ran into a tough arm in Jacksonville starter Trent Palmer, who tossed six innings with nine strikeouts.
The Knights took the lead in the third inning when the top of the order went back to the plate with two outs. Chandler Robertson reached on an error, before Tyler Osik singled to right field and made his way to second on a fielding error. During the next at-bat Dallas Beaver drove the first pitch he saw out to right to bring in a pair of runs.
Robertson gave the Knights another insurance run in the seventh. Following a walk to Matthew Mika and Brandon Hernandez, Robertson produced the perfect drag bunt between first and second base, beating the throw with plenty of time and letting Mika burst home from third.
UCF (7-3) – 3, Jacksonville (4-5) – 0
Winning pitcher: Chris Williams (1-0)
Losing pitcher: Trent Palmer (1-2)
Save: Jeffrey Hakanson (2)
Top hitters: Dallas Beaver (1-3, 2 RBI), Chandler Robertson (1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R)
Top pitcher: Chris Williams (6 IP, 8 K, 1 H, 0 R), Jack Sinclair (2 IP, 2 K, 2 H, 0 R), Jeffrey Hakanson (1 IP, 0 H, 1 K)
WILLY, WILLY
• Saturday was the longest outing in his first start of the year for Williams. He bested his Opening Knight distance of five innings.
• It was just the third time he struck out eight or more batters in his career.
• Williams allowed just one hit for the second time in his career when throwing at least six innings.
• The Fort Lauderdale native was forced to miss the opening nine games of the year, stemming from his time with UCF club baseball as a freshman.
POWER PITCHING
• Saturday was a stellar night for the pitching staff all around with 23 first-pitch strikes against 32 batters.
• The Knights recorded five innings with at least two strikeouts.
• The three hits were the fewest allowed by the Black and Gold since April 29 of last year against Wichita State.
NOTES
• The Knights will play their second straight rubber match of the season on Sunday.
• Jeffrey Hakanson recorded his second career save on Saturday night.
• UCF now leads the all-time series against Jacksonville 44-39.
• Chandler Robertson notched his first RBI of the year.
• The four hits were the fewest for UCF in a win since April 20 against USF, when it has two in a 1-0 win.
UP NEXT
UCF will look to take the weekend series against the Dolphins with a 1 p.m. first pitch at John Euliano Park. The Knights will send Trevor Holloway to the mound.
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