UCF can still hang with the best when given the chance. The Knights could not beat Florida or Miami in three games against the two teams, but gave those nationally ranked powers all the teams could handle. Florida State though had no problems disposing UCF in Tallahassee in Tuesday after facing some early deficits.
The Knights though were not going to leave Tallahassee without drawing a little bit of blood. And they drew plenty with two Austin Griffin home runs.
The No. 12 Seminoles though are what their ranking says they are in many ways. Like Tuesday, they know how to make a clutch hit.
In the bottom of the eighth inning after Griffin’s three-run home run gave the Knights a one-run lead, Quincy Nieporte hit a RBI single after Hal Raleigh advanced to second on a balk.
That got the game to extra innings where UCF failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
The Knights loaded the bases in the top of the 11th inning on a walk, a catcher’s interference and a hit batter. Anthony George struck out looking though to strand those three on base.
The Seminoles would not miss their opportunity. Matt Henderson hit a double and Taylor Walls brought Henderson home on a one-out single and deliver a 5-4 win over UCF on Wednesday in Tallahassee.
Griffin’s home runs were not enough, although certainly a good sign for the offense in support of a pitching staff that seemingly at times gets stretched a bit too thin. Griffin went 2 for 4 in amassing four RBIs on his two home runs. He now has seven home runs, the most in the American Conference.
UCF got a solid performance from several pitchers. Trent Thompson went two innings, giving up one run and three hits. Bryce Tucker pitched the next 4 2/3 innings giving up two runs on three hits.
He would have been in line for the loss if not for Griffin’s shot over the left field wall in the eighth inning. But it was a good performance from those young pitchers and the bullpen did not get stretched too thin like it has in previous midweek encounters.
That did not make a win though. The Knights nearly toppled one of the top teams in the country. A moral victory if there ever was one.
The Knights though are continuing to learn how to finish the deal. A carryover lesson from last year’s disappointing finish to the year. And the loss to the Seminoles on Wednesday was yet another cruel lesson to that purpose.
