Game Recap
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Central Florida encountered another bump in the road this weekend but got back on track on Sunday. After losing the first two games to Dartmouth College, UCF (19-6) defeated the Big Green (10-6) 15-0 in the series-finale at Jay Bergman Field in front of an announced crowd of 1,026.
Starting pitcher Joseph Sheridan (4-2) helped keep Dartmouth scoreless for the first six innings, allowing five hits and striking out five. Dartmouth starting pitcher Jackson Bubala (0-2) got the loss and sat after 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs (four earned), three hits, four walks and struck out two.
“It’s always a goal of mine just to be a starter and do what I can for the team,” Sheridan said after the game. “We got a lot of talent on our rotation. We could throw a bunch of different people out there. So, for Coach to pick me, it’s a big honor, and I gotta love up to it.”
With a 3-0 lead after the first inning, the Knights put the game out of reach, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Third baseman Brooks Morgan drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Then, center fielder Luke Hamblin walked to bring home the first run of the fifth. Second baseman Matthew Mika doubled to left-center field and brought in two runs. Mika scored the last run of the inning on a passed ball.
“They gave us a lot of free bases, but we just got hits,” head coach Greg Lovelady said after the game. “Last night, we had second and third, one out, we had runner on third base, one out, didn’t score him. Just couldn’t get the hits when we needed them. And, today, momentum was on our side. Guys got some big hits early. They put some runners on, and we took advantage of it.”
After scoring only four runs in the previous two games of the series, UCF scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to start the game.
Left fielder Kyle Marsh singled to second base and brought in the first run of the game. Then, with bases loaded, designated hitter Eli Putnam reached on fielder’s choice, and Mika scored. The last run of the inning came in after catcher Logan Heiser reached on an error by Dartmouth’s left fielder.
Mika said his team was frustrated in those first two games. In Sunday’s win, Mika and the Knights just played to have fun.
“We were struggling, we were frustrated, and we just kinda forgot about the rules of baseball,” Mika said after the game. “We just kinda went out here and just played our game, had fun and just put a lot of good at-bats. And pitchers came out and threw strikes, and, like I said, that’s all that we need.”
By the time the fifth inning ended, UCF led Dartmouth 10-0. Morgan’s sacrifice bunt allowed Heiser to score. The 10th run of the game in after Hamblin’s sacrifice fly to center field allowed shortstop Kam Gellinger to score.
UCF scored two more runs in the seventh and three in the eighth.
Player of the Game: Matthew Mika
Mika finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. With a single in the first inning, he extended his hitting streak to 11 games. That ties Putnam’s season-high 11-game hitting streak in 2017.
What’s next?
UCF will host Jacksonville University on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Highlights
B1- @Matthew_Mika singles up the middle, extends his hitting streak to 11 games!!#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/hIAwUSLp3J
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
B1- @Kylemarsh8 delivers an RBI single to give us the early lead!!
Dartmouth 0 UCF 1 pic.twitter.com/zb8fmvKDSg
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
B1- Putnam brings in another run!!
Dartmouth 0 UCF 2 pic.twitter.com/yVhHk1izGa
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
T3- Morgan 👉 Mika 👉 Thomas!! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/ZebpELqyfl
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
T4 – The Big Green get a 2-out hit but the Sheriff eliminates the runner with a slick pick move to end the half inning!
Dartmouth 0 UCF 3 pic.twitter.com/hBx9kWvqx4
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
B5 – Heiser draws a lead-off walk and the Kam rips one down the left field line!#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/WMZZVc1ucv
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
T8 – Kam with the glove and the throw!! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/AAzDkfcn7H
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
B8 – Kam doing on both sides of the ball today!! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/sqh65wIOAn
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) March 26, 2017
NDR Notes
- Entering Sunday’s game, the Knights suffered their first two-game losing streak since dropping two to Florida State.
- Mika tied Putnam’s season-high 11-game hitting streak when he singled in the first inning.
- Marsh made his first appearance of the season on the mound. Two seasons ago, Marsh had Tommy John surgery and sat out last season.
Scoring
University of Central Florida | Dartmouth College | |
Runs | 15 | 0 |
Hits | 12 | 6 |
Errors | 0 | 2 |
Left on Base | 7 | 7 |
Inning | Team | Play | Score |
B1 | University of Central Florida | Kyle Marsh singled to second base, RBI; Matthew Mika advanced to third; Rylan Thomas scored, unearned | 1-0, UCF |
B1 | University of Central Florida | Eli Putnam reached on fielder’s choice, RBI; Josh Moser advanced to second, Kyle Marsh out at third, shortstop to third baseman; Matthew Mika scored, unearned | 2-0, UCF |
B1 | University of Central Florida | Logan Heiser reached on an error by left field, advanced to second, RBI; Eli Putnam advanced to third; Josh Moser scored, unearned | 3-0, UCF |
B4 | University of Central Florida | Luke Hamblin walked, RBI; Brooks Morgan advanced to second; Kam Gellinger advanced to third; Logan Heiser scored | 4-0, UCF |
B4 | University of Central Florida | Rylan Thomas reached on a fielder’s choice, RBI; Luke Hamblin out at second, shortstop to second base; Brooks Morgan advanced to third; Kam Gellinger scored | 5-0, UCF |
B4 | University of Central Florida | Matthew Mika doubled to left-center field, 2 RBIs; Rylan Thomas scored, Brooks Morgan scored | 7-0, UCF |
B4 | University of Central Florida | Matthew Mika scored on passed ball, unearned | 8-0, UCF |
B5 | University of Central Florida | Brooks Morgan grounded out to pitcher, sacrifice bunt, RBI; Kam Gellinger advanced to third; Logan Heiser scored | 9-0, UCF |
B5 | University of Central Florida | Luke Hamblin flew out to left-center field, sacrifice fly, RBI; Kam Gellinger scored | 10-0, UCF |
B7 | University of Central Florida | Bryrce Peterson walked, RBI; Brooks Morgan advanced to second; Kam Gellinger advanced to third; Dallas Beaver scored | 11-0, UCF |
B7 | University of Central Florida | Max Wood reached on a fielder’s choice, RBI; Bryce Peterson out at second, shortstop to second baseman; Brooks Morgan advanced to third; Kam Gellinger scored | 12-0, UCF |
B8 | University of Central Florida | Michael Higgins doubled to left field, RBI; Austin Griffin advanced to third; Josh Moser scored | 13-0, UCF |
B8 | University of Central Florida | Kam Gellinger doubled to left-center field, 2 RBIs; Michael Higgins scored; Austin Griffin scored | 15-0, UCF |
Statistics and Starting Lineups
Pitching
Player | Team | IP | R | ER | H | BB | SO |
Joe Sheridan (4-2) | University of Central Florida | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Jackson Bubala (0-2) | Dartmouth College | 3.1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Hitting
Player | Team | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO |
Matthew Mika | University of Central Florida | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Kam Gellinger | University of Central Florida | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kyle Marsh | University of Central Florida | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Blake Crossing | Dartmouth College | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
UCF starting lineup: 1. Luke Hamblin (8) 2. Rylan Thomas (3) 3. Matthew Mika (4) 4. Kyle Marsh (7) 5. Josh Moser (9) 6. Eli Putnam (DH) 7. Logan Heiser (2) 8. Kam Gellinger (6) 9. Brooks Morgan (5)
UCF starting pitcher: Joseph Sheridan (3-2)
Dartmouth starting lineup: 1. Trevor Johnson (8) 2. Matt Feinstein (7) 3. Dustin Shirley (4) 4. Michael Ketchmark (3) 5. Kyle Holbrook (9) 6. Mike Brown (DH) 7. Blake Crossing (5) 8. Nate Ostmo (6) 9. Adam Gauthier (2)
Dartmouth starting pitcher: Jack Bubala (0-1)
[…] Recap […]
Comments are closed.