UCF baseball update: Golden Knights pick up two mid-week wins

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

UCF was able to get back on track picking up two mid-week wins after getting swept by Houston this weekend. UCF defeated Harvard on Monday and was able to win in extra innings on Tuesday against crosstown rival Stetson. UCF is now 16-13 on the year after last nights come from behind victory and now look to this weekend’s series at UAB to get back on track in conference play. UCF is 0-3 in the conference after getting swept by Houston at home and the Golden Knights look to play their first series away from Jay Bergman Field since they traveled to LSU back in February.

Monday, UCF 7 - Harvard 3
UCF was able to rebound quickly from being swept by Houston over the weekend when they were able to pick up a victory on a rare Monday night game. Kyle Sweat had quite a performance on the mound when he threw for 8 innings and a total of 112 pitches while giving up 2 runs on 6 hits.

Harvard was able to get on the board first after a wild pitch by Sweat allowed Prince to score for an early lead in the second inning. Harvard would grab another run after a line drive to left in the top of the sixth. UCF would answer in the fifth and sixth innings when they scored a total of six runs to grab the lead for good with a 6-2 lead. Chris Duffy would step up to the opportunity that was handed to him in the bottom of the sixth. Duffy stepped into the batters box with the bases loaded and was able to clear the bases with a double to cap off a four run inning.

UCF would cruise the rest of the way without much of a fight as Harvard was only able to pick up a run in the top of the ninth.

Perfect
UCF was able to go through their game against Harvard with out committing any errors; something that has been a reoccurring problem for UCF this season.

Monday Night...Baseball?
UCF played in a rare Monday night game this week and was able to fill the seats as 1177 people came up to witness the Knights’ victory. The attendance at the game against Harvard ranks 14th all-time at Jay Bergman field.

Tuesday, UCF 4 - Stetson 3
It was a game that kids recite over and over when they are growing up playing on the diamond; 2 outs, 2 strikes. While it was top of the ninth in this case, Tyson Auer was able to live out this childhood dream when he stepped to the
plate. With the Knights down 3-2 in the ninth and the game on the line with runners in scoring position, Auer was able to come through with a shot to left center that scored the equalizing run and pushed the game into extra innings.

In extra innings it was a stand-still in the tenth with neither squad producing much offense, thus pushing the contest into the eleventh inning. UCF was able to get things going in the 11th when pinch hitter Steve Stroup was walked and replaced by pinch runner Matt Horwath. The Hatters were able to get two outs, but Horwath had by this time advanced to third base. Nick Puigliese was able to get the count to 0-2 when he threw his next pitch in the backstop and allowing Horwath to score the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the eleventh Justin Weiss stayed on the mound and struck out the Clemendin to start the inning. Things got a little interesting when the Hatters were able to put runners on first and second after a walk and then a single by Shane Jordan. Weiss maintained his composure and struck out Adam Tindle with just three pitches. UCF got out of a jam when the Hatters grounded out to second to wrap up UCF's first come from behind win of the year (after the eighth inning). Weiss was awarded the win for his 4 scoreless innings of relief and allowed only 2 hits while striking out 5 Hatters.

Warm Up the Bullpen
Stetson used seven different pitchers in the contest and was only able to get more than 2 innings out of starter Robby Donovan. The Knights were able to use only three in the victory over the Hatters.

Not going anywhere for a while?
The extra inning match between the cross-town rivals went deep into the night as the game started at 7:05 pm and did not end until 11:11 pm. A total of 4 hours and six minutes elapsed from the first pitch until the end of the contest.

Triple Play
In the eighth inning with runners on first and second with no outs, the comeback appeared to be heading south when Jeremy Cruz bat sent the ball beaming right for the gap in center. The ball took a "magical bullet" course when it hit off of Weiss' foot on the mound and stayed in the air, falling into the glove of Dwayne Bailey. With the Hatters runners going after what appeared to be a base hit, Bailey stepped on second and threw it to first to complete the Knights first triple play since March of 2001.

Who's Next?
UCF looks to rebound from their 0-3 start in Conference USA play when they hit the road and travel to play UAB in a three game series. The Blazers are 12-15 for the year and are playing their first game in conference play this Friday against the Knights. UCF desperately needs to pick up some wins this weekend and can not afford to fall to far behind in the standings to start the conference slate. UCF will travel to Tampa after this weekend to play USF in their first of 3 games with USF this season.