April 11, 2012
Box Score
Reach Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details by E-Mail
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Wildcats got a late-game spark from Jordan Taylor's RBI triple against #13 UCF, but it proved to be too little, too late as the Knights defeated B-CU 6-2, Wednesday night at Jay Bergman Field.
B-CU got off to a rocky start on defense, as a D.J. Hicks RBI into the acreage just beyond third base put the Knights on top in the first. UCF added another pair to go up 3-0 after one. While limiting B-CU offensively , the Knights put up runs in two additional innings, including Chris Taladay's home run to right field, to take a 6-0 lead on the Wildcats.
After being held to three hits in the first seven frames, the Wildcats found a lift to get going in the eighth, as Nick Johnson led off with a tough-fielded hit down the left field line. Jordan Taylor seized the opportunity with a big curving triple into left center to put the first B-CU run on the board.
“There's no doubt that Jordan Taylor swung the bat well tonight and got us going with his triple that drove in Nick [Johnson],” said Head Coach Jason Beverlin. “Up to that point, we didn't do a whole lot offensively, but we hit some balls well and they seemed to go right at people.”
A Josh Johnson sacrifice fly to right brought Taylor home to make it a pair, but B-CU was unable to keep the momentum; held scoreless in the final inning for the 6-2 loss.
After a tough start for Scott Garner (1-3), Bryan Rivera relieved in the third after the home run, throwing 4.2 solid innings, allowing just one earned run, walking one, and collecting four strikeouts. Rivera relaxed the pace of the game. Jairo Acevedo retired the Knights in the eighth to give B-CU one last shot on offense.
“Bryan did a great job of holding the game where it was at, and really giving us a chance to get back into the game,” Beverlin noted.
Three B-CU errors proved costly, resulting in a pair of unearned runs for UCF, as the Wildcats pooled together five hits as a team with two RBI, ending in the ninth straight loss to the Knights.
“I think the biggest thing is a belief in yourself that you're going to win the game when you get off the bus,” Beverlin said, acknowledging how historical success can factor into the pregame mindset. “If you believe in yourself, some of those balls fall in for you. I truly believe that we can beat anyone in the country if we are 100 percent focused.”
The Wildcats (20-14, 10-3 MEAC) return to the confines of Jackie Robinson Ballpark this weekend for the rematch with Florida A&M (6-32, 4-8 MEAC), the only MEAC team to defeat the Wildcats in consecutive games. FAMU topped B-CU for the first two conference games in a stunning early season series. Sunday is Senior Day for the Wildcats, so B-CU fans should expect a little extra push with the Rattlers in town.
