CINCINNATI, Ohio (UCFKnights.com) – Powered by an eight-run sixth inning, the UCF baseball team opened its weekend series at Cincinnati with a run-rule shutout on Friday night. The Knights blanked the Bearcats 15-0 with a season high in runs, RBI and walks.
“I thought we played a phenomenal game all around today,” head coach Greg Lovelady said. “Obviously, Grant Schuermann did a great job on the mound in his homecoming game. He made two great plays defensively. Offensively, we did a tremendous job. We took a ton of free bases. A ton of guys got on base. We got some big hits. It’s a great start to the weekend. We have to come out tomorrow and do it all over again.”
Dalton Wingo struck for a career-high four RBI on a 3-for-6 night at the plate, as the Knights totaled 15 runs on 14 hits with 13 RBI.
The Knights jumped out in front with a three-run third inning. Dallas Beaver opened the scoring with a bases loaded walk, which set the stage for Dalton Wingo. The sophomore then roped a two-run single through the right side, and Matthew Mika slid under the tag.
Two innings later, Adams Torres tacked on an insurance run with an RBI groundout chopper to second.
The offense poured it on in the sixth with eight runs on six hits. Tyler Osik started things off with a two-run home run over the wall in left. Three batters later, Wingo sent an RBI single to right field. Brandon Hernandez made it 10-0 with an RBI double to left field. UCF added scores later in the inning on bases-loaded walks and balks.
Gephry Pena plated his first career RBI in the seventh, scoring a run on a fielder’s choice. UCF reached the run-rule total an inning later after a Wingo RBI double and an Adams Torres RBI single through the left side.
While the offense was rolling, starting pitcher Grant Schuermann delivered another gem. The southpaw went six innings deep with five strikeouts. He worked around one walk and a pair of base knocks. The Cincinnati native retired the side in order in four innings and allowed just two runners to reach scoring position. Schuermann kept a no-hitter through four innings, before the leadoff man in the fifth reached on a single.
Luis Ferrer came in for the final two innings of work. The lefty fanned a pair and retired all six batters he faced.
UCF (22-12, 4-6) – 14, Cincinnati (14-19, 5-5) – 0
Winning pitcher: Grant Schuermann (4-3)
Losing pitcher: AJ Kullman (2-1)
Top hitters: Dalton Wingo (3-6, 4 RBI), Tyler Osik (2-4, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB), Brandon Hernandez (2-4, 2 RBI) Adams Torres (2-6, 2 RBI)
Top pitchers: Grant Schuermann (6 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 0 H, 0 R), Luis Ferrer (2 IP, 2 K, 0 H, 0 R)
SCHERM SHOWS OFF
• Schuermann dealt his sixth quality start of the year, a team high.
• The lefty produced 14 first-pitch strikes to 21 batters he faced and also made two fielding plays.
• He is now 4-3 on the year and 18-17 in his career.
• Schuermann went to Lakota High School, a mere 20 minutes from Marge Schott Stadium.
OFFENSIVE ERUPTION
• Eight of the nine starters scored a run and six different Knights drive in a run.
• UCF showed patience at the plate, drawing a season-high 11 walks and six hit by pitches, the latter two shy of the program record.
• The Knights hit .318 with runners in scoring position (7-for-22)
NOTES
• UCF leads the all-time series 12-5.
• The shutout was the Knights’ fourth of the season and 18th in the Greg Lovelady era.
• Ben McCabe tied the school record for times hit by a pitch with three.
• Matthew Mika stole his team-leading 16th base of the year, bringing him within four of fourth place in program history at 76.
• Tyler Osik walked three times for a new career high.
SCHEDULE CHANGE
Due to inclement weather in the forecast, the two sides will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Both games can be heard for free through UCFKnights.com.
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