UCF threw out its top two pitchers in its American Conference opener at Memphis and got the mixed results it has often gotten all year.
Cre Finfrock and Robbie Howell have put in some strong pitching performances to help set the table throughout the year. But not necessarily at the same time. Consistency has remained an issue for the sophomore Frinfrock as he begins the weekend for the Knights every week.
Not so much from Howell. Howell just continues to deal.
Howell evened up UCF’s weekend series with Memphis at FedEx Field on Saturday with an eight-inning, three-hit performance for a 9-2 win Saturday.
With the Knights getting another strong start from Howell, the offense awoke for 14 hits and those nine runs behind Ryan Crile and Logan Hauser’s three hits apiece. With Crile getting on base from the leadoff spot, the Knights were always threatening to score and putting pressure on Memphis.
“That was a great team win. To me, the day begins and starts with Robby Howell,” head coach Terry Rooney told UCFKnights.com. “He has been doing it all year — putting the team on his back. He went in determined like he has the entire season and did a terrific job.
“We scored some runs early, which allowed everyone to relax a little bit. Again, we were able to bounce back from last night [loss]
That was something they could not do in Friday’s series opener.
UCF tallied 14 hits in the Saturday game to back Howell up as Howell made quick work of Memphis throughout his eight innings. Both runs the Tigers scored were unearned.
Howell improved to 6-0 on the year and has a 1.08 ERA. Luke Hamblin had two RBIs as the back of the order did a good job clearing the bases and bringing runners home.
Again this was what the Knights struggled with in the series opener Friday.
UCF managed one eighth-inning run on six hits as Memphis was able to get to Finfrock in the third and fifth inning for a run, before scoring four in the seventh.
Finfrock went 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs and six hits. Crile got himself going with an RBI single late. He was just 1 for 4 in that game, but the run helped create some momentum heading to the Saturday matchup.
Whatever was said or done between the two games clearly worked as the Knights had both their pitching and their hitting working. There were no early jams like Finfrock found himself in (he worked out of a one-out bases loaded jam in the second Friday). It was just a complete team performance.
The kind of game Terry Rooney has been looking for throughout this season.
Now comes the trickiest part for the Knights. Finishing the series with a win to get home with a winning record after one conference weekend series.
