Three-Run Ninth Inning Lifts Stetson Over UCF 5-2
March 28, 2006
Orlando, Fla. ' The Hatters collected just three hits Tuesday night, but they made all of them count.
Brian Bocock's RBI single in the top of the ninth inning broke a 2-2 tie and helped lift Stetson to a 5-2 victory over host UCF Tuesday night at Jay Bergman Field.
Freshman Brad Pippa drove in three runs as the Hatters (13-14) completed a two-game season sweep over the Knights (16-12).
'That was a big win, and I'm very proud of this ballclub,' Hatters head coach Pete Dunn said.? 'There have been times this year when we would produce a lot of hits and not score a lot of runs, but tonight we were efficient.'
The loss spoiled a brilliant outing by UCF freshman Mitch Houck, who allowed just one hit and struck out a season-high 11 batters in eight innings of work.
But with the score tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth, Brian Pruitt greeted Knights reliever Derek Abriola with a lead-off triple to right field.? Bocock followed with an RBI single to left and then scored when Abriola (2-1) threw wildly to first on Adam Tindle's sacrifice attempt.? Two batters later, Pippa laid down a successful squeeze bunt to cap the three-run rally.
'We were stifled and stymied with just one hit through eight innings, but we kept the score tied,' Dunn said.? 'Then in the ninth our guys did a nice job of not only getting the lead but building the lead.'
Stetson has now won four of its last six road games, including victories at LSU, Florida, and UCF.
'I know we keep saying this, but eventually a big win on the road will be the spark we need,' Dunn said.? 'We've had trouble taking care of business at home, but we've had some big wins on the road.'
Making his second consecutive start and pitching on just one day of rest, Nathan Nery worked seven strong innings but did not figure in the decision.? Nery allowed six hits and two runs while striking out seven.
'Nery did not throw many pitches on Sunday, and he had pitched well under the lights,' Dunn said.? 'He has also pitched well against UCF, so we decided to give him the ball again.? He gave us seven quality innings tonight.'
Pippa's two-run single with the bases loaded in the top of the second inning gave the Hatters an early 2-0 lead an accounted for the Hatters' only base hit in eight innings against Houck.
The Knights tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-out, two-run single to right by Tyson Auer.
UCF threatened to take the lead in the fifth, loading the bases with just one out, but Matt Horwath rolled into a double play to end the inning.
The score remained deadlocked until Stetson broke through in the ninth.
Robbie Elsemiller (1-2) pitched the final two innings to pick up the victory.
Stetson will face Vermont in a three-game non-conference series beginning at 7 p.m. Friday night.
Box Score
Notes: Stetson scored first for the 19th time this season including 10 times in the last 11 games ... The Hatters improved to 5-1 on Tuesday nights ... Chris Johnson had his hitting streak snapped at 11 games ... Adam Tindle made two sliding catches in right field ... Stetson batters struck out 25 times against UCF pitching this year ... Brian Pruitt hit his second triple in four games ... Pippa's three RBI were his first runs batted in this year.
