UCF (17-13, 3-2 American) and its bullpen was unable to hold a late lead on Saturday night as the team dropped the second game of a three-game series with No. 24 Houston (18-12, 1-3 American).
Pinch hitter Zac Taylor gave Houston the clutch hit the team needed in the eighth inning off of junior right hander Trent Thompson to give Houston the 4-3 victory, evening the series at one game apiece going into the rubber game Sunday.
Saturdays have usually been money in the bank for the Knights with junior right hander Robby Howell (6-0, 1.07 ERA) usually taking the mound. He did manage to toss a quality start, seemingly doing enough to help the team get the win.
The Knights had a 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. But that is when the game unraveled for UCF and its bullpen, not being able to get the final nine outs needed to secure the victory.
After a leadoff single to begin the 7th inning, Howell was able to retire the next batter via strikeout, but walked Houston’s cleanup hitter Corey Julks to create a jam and Thompson entered to try to put out the fire.
However, after a double steal by Houston, Thompson allowed a crucial two-run single to third baseman Justin Montemayor, creating an uphill climb UCF could not scale as the reliever took the loss.
Howell was effective, but was less than his normal self giving up nine hits in 6.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs (two earned) and walking three batters while striking out four.
UCF was able to get the lead early through its cleanup hitter Austin Griffin as he went 1-for-4 including a first-inning RBI double. Griffin had missed the last four games after leaving a game on March 29 against Jacksonville with a hamstring injury.
Other RBIs for the Knights were by Matt Diorio and Sam Tolleson, with Tolleson supplying an RBI single in the seventh inning to give the Knights a lead and Diorio with an RBI groundout that tied the contest after Thompson relinquished the lead.
