UCF baseball this year has generally been strong behind their pitchers. The team’s defense has been solid, able to turn double plays and get putouts fairly easily. They do have 28 errors in 31 games, but the Knights have tried to use defense as a backbone and their team approach.
Midweek games have been as much of a roller coaster for UCF this season as anything else. The Knights are still searching for quality midweek pitching and consistency from their lineup in between their weekend series.
The competition does not hurt either as the schedule has stiffened with these midweek games.
UCF has stood tall in these games and would do so again thanks to four double plays. But the Knights have not finished the deal. Even with momentum moving in their way after a weekend series win at Memphis and close games against Florida State in midweek games.
No. 12 Florida Atlantic got the push from UCF at Jay Bergman Field on Tuesday, but pulled away in the 11th inning for a 5-0 win.
“First off, the guys did a terrific job tonight,” head coach Terry Rooney told UCFKnights.com. “Bottom line is that you win as a team and lose as a team. We talk about keep getting better and I thought our pitchers did a fantastic job. We threw 10 shutout innings.”
The Knights turned four double plays and solid outings from a cavalcade of pitchers to hold the Owls scoreless. The defense was on point throughout the evening and gave UCF every chance to win. The Knights just could not crack David McKay, who went six innings giving up two hits, and could not get on base consistently.
UCF tallied just five hits for the game but managed only three runners in scoring position and just one reaching third base in the final inning.
FAU had nine hits itself, but four came in that five-run 11th inning. It was as if in that inning the Knights just finally gave away, opening up with a hit by pitch before the Owls started getting rolling with hits including a pair of RBI doubles.
UCF was certainly game to play with FAU and have continued to stand tall against some difficult opponents throughout the season.
The Knights just could not come up with the result and scratch that one run across to take the game. The contest was that close for sure. UCF continues to put itself in position to win.
Now the preparation turns back to the conference season and a weekend series at Houston.
