After a brutal game Tuesday night against Tulane that saw multiple opportunities squandered, UCF decided it was not going to be a repeat affair Wednesday. And that the Knights’ season will not end without a fight.
The Knights defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats 7-6 on a walk-off home run by Brooks Morgan in the 10th inning, coming back from a 4-0 deficit, a 5-4 deficit entering the ninth inning and a 6-5 deficit in the 10th along the way.
Morgan, a pinch hitter, drove a fastball deep into the night and over the wall in left field, sending the Knights dugout into a frenzy, and leaving the team with an essential win.
You saw the highlights but how about the view from the field of the walk-off for @UCF_Baseball pic.twitter.com/AZrCdg9TZR
— American Baseball (@American_BSB) May 26, 2016
The team never quit, and kept battling back.
“It’s certainly a great win,” UCF coach Terry Rooney told Hali Oughton of the American Digital Network. “We talk about a lot the epitome of a team win and that was everything you talk about in a team win. So many guys contributing. We used almost the entire bench. The regular season didn’t end up how we wanted to, but the one thing we say with these guys is they compete like crazy. They believe, they continue to work.”
Luke Hamblin chipped in two hits from the ninth spot in the batting order, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, both of them from the seventh inning on.
UCF’s demise against Tulane was its futility with runners in scoring position, but Wednesday the script was flipped. The Knights went 6-for-10 against the Bearcats in those situations, cashing in on opportunities that squandered in Tuesday’s contest, and even the first six innings.
The Knights were able to score four runs in the seventh inning, tying the game off of Bearcats’ starter Tyler Zellner. That erased that four-run deficit early.
For UCF, Juan Pimentel toed the mound and was not fantastic. He went 4 2/3 innings allowing three runs on eight hits and walking four batters. It was an erratic performance from Pimentel, who has emerged as the second best option in the UCF rotation behind Robby Howell.
UCF also got multiple hit games from Matthew Mika (2-for-4), Matt Diorio (2-for-4) and Austin Griffin (2-for-3).
After eight hits in the tournament’s first round, the Knights managed 14 against the Bearcats, 10 of which came in the final four innings.
UCF showed up when the team had too, and are rewarded with another opportunity to play.
The team will play the loser of the Houston Cougars and Tulane Green Wave matchup at 11 a.m. on Friday in another elimination game. The Cougars and Green Wave play Thursday at 3 p.m.
Orlando City grabs draw from Philadelphia
Orlando City might be frustrated yet again with a draw at home. The team might be frustrated both by missing a penalty kick to take the lead and by giving up a 2-1 lead in the second half after a barrage of offensive activity from substitute Kevin Molino.
The reality is though the Lions dominated possession for much of the game before getting the breakthrough after some substitutions and then gave the lead up that quickly for a 2-2 draw at Camping World Stadium.
Orlando City pulled level after subbing in Kevin Molino. Molino scored just moments after subbing in as he cleaned up a shot on an empty net after Cyle Larin, a Philadelphia defender and goalkeeper Andre Blake collided going for a loose ball at the top of the box.
Kaka would make it two a few minutes later, beating his defender down the wing along the touch line and crossing it to Larin who chested it in for the 2-1 lead.
That very well could have been enough.
Once again, though, the Lions gave up set pieces and failed to finish. Joe Bendik made the initial save on a low cross after a free kick but redirected it right back into play. His defense stood flat footed as Ken Tribbett came into score.
The back-and-forth action led to some exciting moments and near misses. The game would remain level for yet another home draw for Orlando City as another opportunity to bank some points passed again.
Blake Bortles praises Scott Frost
UCF continues its #ChargeOn Tour across Florida. Recently it stopped in Jacksonville for a get together at Everbank Field, home to UCF’s most famous currently playing football alumni.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles was at the Charge On Tour stop in Jacksonville on Monday and had some high praise for UCF’s new coach.
“I’ve gotten a chance to meet him a couple of times and went and watched a [spring] practice and how he interacted with the players and coaches was unbelievable,” BORTLES TOLD JUSTIN BARNEY OF THE FLORIDA TIMES UNION. “And I think he’s a smart football mind. Obviously, I’m jealous about what he did with the uniforms because they look way better than ours did.”
The Knights have certainly experienced a major increase in excitement at these stops. It has been pretty palpable.
This does not have the look of a program coming off a winless season right now. It has the feel of something else.
And Frost has not even coached a game yet.
