All is well that ends well. But for UCF (25-31, 8-16 American) to have a happy ending, it would take a miracle at this point.
The Knights were swept in their final series of the year against the East Carolina Pirates, and will enter the American Conference tournament on a six-game losing streak and as the lowest seed.
Beginning on April 22 against Tulane, UCF went on to lose 12 of its last 17 games. The reason why this date is of significance is because it was the date Cre Finfrock was switched around in the rotation.
Finfrock’s inexplicable descent acts as the turning point in what was once a promising campaign for a group of inexperienced players that has turned into a nightmare of growing pains.
Finfrock has officially reached bedrock. After starting the season well as one of the anchors of the Knights’ rotation beside Robby Howell, the junior right-hander was poised to continue his winning ways, with a good demeanor and even better stuff.
But things do not always work out as they are planned, and Finfrock has fallen victim to obvious discomfort and a lack of confidence on the mound. He is 2-5 with a 6.55 ERA in American Conference play.
In Saturday’s loss, Finfrock reached an even lower point than any he encountered before as he exited the game after just one inning, allowing three runs on three hits while throwing 34 pitches as East Carolina batted around.
East Carolina swatted UCF pitching all weekend with 20 runs in the three games, sweeping UCF.
For the first 26 innings of the series there was not much good to note for UCF, but the 27th inning, or the 9th inning on Saturday, proved UCF was not done yet, and there is a reason to watch the team the whole way through.
Down 8-1, the Knights rallied for six runs, but senior Sam Tolleson stranded the bases loaded with the tying and winning runs on base.
It was a tease, but it is the kind of effort that is to be expected from UCF all season. The team is spattered with freshmen and transfers, so the level of production was always going to be hard to read, but the Knights cannot be accused for quitting. They have not packed in it, they are just simply not as talented.
The season is not a waste though.
Robby Howell posted the best ERA in the entire American Conference at 1.91. Austin Griffin finished in the top five in the conference in both home runs (10) and RBIs (41).
There are positives to build on in future years for the Knights, and with just two seniors in Harry Hukari and Sam Tolleson, there is a lot to look forward to.
For now though, it does not seem to be UCF’s year. The question that remains though is if head coach Terry Rooney will be around for when it is.
