UCF splits season opening series with FIU

UCF sports correspondent

ORLANDO - Jay Bergman and the Golden Knights opened the season with two games against the Florida International Golden Panthers for the seventh consecutive year.

On Saturday, the rain left just in time for the first pitch of the season opener. FIU notched a 5-3 season opening win.

UCF sophomore right-hander Kyle Sweat lasted 5.1 innings and allowed three runs—all of which were earned—on six hits. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter in his 76-pitch outing.

Catcher Brandon Romans, who was playing his first game for UCF, went 2-for-4 with a run scored and made two memorable defensive plays—a putout at home and gunning down an FIU base runner attempting to steal.

Sophomore shortstop Eric Kallstrom also finished the game with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate for the Golden Knights.

The second game of this two game series was Sunday at 1 p.m. The Knights looked like a completely different team on Sunday, as they banged out 14 hits and the pitching staff was able to get out of a couple jams in the 9-3 victory.

Steve Stropp and Kiko Vazquez combined for six hits and four RBI, while Tyson Auer tied a career high with three runs scored.

Eric English, a transfer from LSU, collected the win after coming in relief of senior Brian Brooks. English tossed 3.1 innings and allowed only one run on three hits. He struck out one and walked two. Mitch Houck and Austin Hudson closed out the final 2.1 innings of the victory in the non-save situation.

UCF (1-1) will need to build on the momentum from Sunday’s win, as they will welcome No.15 TCU to Orlando for a three-game set. First-pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. (EST) on Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10. The third and final game of the series on Sunday will begin at 1:00 p.m.