Troy, Ala. – Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field in Troy, Ala. the UCF baseball team dropped its series finale, falling 14-12 to Troy. For the fifth time in 2021, UCF scored 10+ runs on the backs of multi-RBI games from Gephry Pena, Jordan Rathbone, and Tom Josten.
The Trojans jumped out to a quick lead, plating six runs in the first inning and three in the second to hold a nine-run lead. Showing signs of life on offense, Jordan Rathbone drove in UCF's first run of the day with a single off of the shallow wall in right field.
The Knights made it a ballgame in the fifth inning, sending 14 batters to the plate and driving in nine runs thanks to four extra base hits. The inning was highlighted by a Tom Josten opposite field home run – his second of the season, Gephry Pena's second two-RBI base hit of the contest and Jordan Rathbone's fourth two-bagger of the season which drove in two.
UCF allowed three more runs in the home half of the fifth and were unable to complete the comeback, despite plating two more in the seventh.
Due to travel concerns, the two teams were unable to start a new inning after 5:30 p.m. CT and the game came to an end in the eighth with the Knights trailing, 14-12.
UCF (10-13) – 12, Troy (13-10) – 14
Winning Pitcher: AJ Jones (2-2)
Losing Pitcher: Lance Johnson (1-0)
Top Hitters: Jordan Rathbone (2-5, 3 RBI, 1 2B), Tom Josten (2-3, 2 RBI. 1 HR), John Montes (2-3, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 2B), Gephry Pena (2-4, 1 R, 4 RBI)
Top Pitchers: Hunter Patteson (2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K), David Litchfield (1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K)
Notable Stats
- Gephry Pena's 4 RBI performance is a season-high and is second on the team with 21 on the year.
- Jordan Rathbone's RBI total is up to 21 after driving in three on Sunday. The senior's 21 RBI's is second on the Knights behind Ben McCabe with 28.
- This is the second time this season the Knights have scored 10+ runs in a game without winning
- Gephry Pena extended his on-base streak to 22 straight games after reaching on a base hit and walk, which dates back to March 6, 2020
- The Knights are now 18-11 all-time against Troy after falling in the three-game series.
Next Up
UCF returns home to close the non-conference season at John Euliano Park on Tuesday against Jacksonville with a 6 p.m. first pitch. The Knights then turn their attention to American Athletic Conference opponents as they begin league play with a four-game War-on-I4 series out west against South Florida, set to begin on Thursday, Apr. 1
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