UCF baseball update: Golden Knights drop mid-week game to rival Bulls

CUSA Fans UCF sports correspondent Ryan Westin provides us with an update on the 2007 UCF baseball team.

UCF played seven solid innings of baseball Tuesday night against rival USF in Tampa, but unfortunately the Knights ran into some trouble during late in the game as they fell 11-4 to the Bulls.

UCF was able to battle through a pitchers duel for the first three innings and carried the momentum into the fourth inning. Like in their series with UAB, the Knights were able to get the hits and runners on base needed to be in the game, but the clutch hits did not come against the Bulls. UCF out hit USF through the top of the 4th at a 5 to 1 clip, however the Knights left five runners on base over that span as well. The Knights failure to convert their hits into runs left the door wide open for the Bulls to take the lead and that is exactly what they did in the bottom of the fourth inning.  

Eric English, a transfer from LSU, was the starter for the Knights from the mound. English held USF scoreless up until the fourth inning when he gave up five runs before being relieved by Austin Hudson. English started the inning by hitting two batters then throwing a wild pitch to get in trouble with two out left and three runs already in. UCF went on to give up three more runs before Hudson came in and got the final out of the inning.

The Knights were able to pick up some momentum with a run in the 6th off a Tyson Auer double. Auer promptly stole third and the throw sailed past the bag, he was able to score UCF's first run. UCF would fire back with the base loaded in the seventh with no outs and the tying run at the plate. UCF was able to score two runs in the inning and close the Bulls' lead to two runs. But USF answered with a six run bottom of the 7th inning off of six hits and one error by UCF to put the game out of reach. The Knights were able to score the last run of game in the eighth when Chadd Hartman was walked with the bases loaded but could not knock in any runs as Auer popped out to end the inning and put away any come back hopes as well.

The loss to USF puts the Knights at 16-17 on the season as USF improves to 23-9 on the year. Matt Quevodo picked up his third win of the season with 6.1 innings from the mound while giving up just one run.

Left on Base
Over the past couple of weeks, UCF has been able to match or exceed the competition's hits in just about every game. The Knights have not been as fortunate as the competition with bringing those runners in. In tonight's game the Knights had 12 hits to USF's 15 however, USF was able to convert their hits into 11 runs and the Knights were able to knock in only 4.

Shining Moment
UCF was able to get a nice outing from Austin Hudson who shutout USF during his 2.1 innings of relief. Hudson was allowed one hit and struck out four of USF batters.

Who's Next?
UCF returns home this weekend from their longest road trip of the season when they host Southern Miss. The series opener is on Friday 6:30 pm with the finale on Easter Sunday.  UCF will travel to "title town" 100 miles north ( Gainesville) for a mid-week match up on Tuesday to play the University of Florida.