JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cade Boxrucker finished just one out shy of a no-hitter, as UCF recorded its second shutout on the year over an in-state foe by blanking Jacksonville 6-0 in midweek action on Tuesday night at John Sessions Stadium.
Boxrucker shined on the mound for the Black and Gold all night long, as he allowed just four baserunners over 8.2 innings of impressive action. Looking for UCF’s (16-6) first solo no-hitter since 1973, Boxrucker retired the first two men he faced in the last of the ninth via a flyout and a strikeout. Just one out away, JU’s (11-13) Abdriel Delgado managed to drop in a double to left center that landed just out of the reach of centerfielder Andrew Williamson to break up the no-no. Spencer Bauer then came on and promptly retired the first man he faced to end the ballgame and preserve the one-hit shutout.
Over his outstanding outing, the senior right-hander Boxrucker went a career-long 8.2 innings and surrendered just one hit and no runs while striking out four. Boxrucker threw 112 pitches on the night and retired 12 batters via groundout and 10 via flyout.
“From pitch number one Cade was on his game. He showed great fastball command, the use of his slider, and his change up was in play. He attacked and attacked, and you could tell from pitch one that he had something special going,” head UCF coach Rich Wallace said. “I kept asking him in the late innings where he was at, and he asked me to give him a shot, so we rode it out there and I can’t believe he did what he did. It was just an unbelievable performance.”