Jacksonville, Fla. – Colton Gordon held Jacksonville to just two runs in the opening contest of the weekend series with the Dolphins, but the UCF baseball team fell in a pitcher's duel on Friday, 2-1.
UCF starting pitcher, Colton Gordon went a full 6.0 IP and fanned nine Dolphin batters – it was Gordon's fourth time throwing at least six innings this year and was just one shy of his season-high strikeout mark.
The UCF offense didn't have an answer for Jacksonville starter Tyler Santana, who tossed a complete game allowing just a single run. Despite picking up seven hits as a team, the Knights were only able to push across a single run in the game. A pair of hits from John Montes and Alex Freeland combined with a Jacksonville defensive error, Josh Crouch was able to drive in Montes on a ground ball to shortstop to give UCF the first lead.
Jacksonville answered quickly with a lead-off triple and RBI single to start the bottom half of the fifth. The Dolphins added another run to take the lead in the sixth, stringing together three singles for the 2-1 advantage.
Winning Pitcher: Tyler Santana (2-2)
Losing Pitcher: Colton Gordon (2-2)
Top Pitchers: Colton Gordon (6.0 IP, 9 K, 2 ER), Ben Vespi (2.0 IP, 0 ER)
Top Hitters: John Montes (3-3, 1 R), Alex Freeland (2-3)
Notables
- The Knights fall to 4-5 against Florida opponents in 2021
- UCF still hold the in the all-time series against Jacksonville, 47-40
- Colton Gordon has now made five starts and not allowed more than two earned runs in a single outing
- Gordon has made back-to-back starts with 6.0+ IP without issuing a single walk.
- John Montes' three-hit night was the first multi-hit game of the freshman's collegiate career
Next Up
The Knights will return to John Sessions Stadium on Saturday, March 20 for game two of the series, with a 2 p.m. first pitch; before returning home to John Euliano Park on Sunday to finish the series.
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