March 21, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - Dee Brown went 2-for-5 with three RBI and UCF scored 11 unanswered runs including a five-run sixth inning as the Golden Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Samford, 11-3, Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Atlantic Sun Conference baseball action. Samford fell to 5-17 and 2-8 in the A-Sun while UCF improved to 17-8 and 2-2 in the conference.

Taylor Cobb (3-1) picked up the win allowing two earned runs in seven innings while striking out five. Frank Allen Yeilding (1-5) took the loss for Samford allowing seven earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts. The Bulldogs stranded 11 base runners. Matt Alling led Samford going 3-for-5 with one run scored. Clay Timpner was 2-for-5 with two runs scored for the Golden Knights.

Trailing 3-2, UCF scored five runs in the top of the sixth off four hits and one Samford error. Timpner led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. Ryan Bear singled and stole second. Blaine Schulte reached on a fielder's choice loading the bases. Brown singled to left center scoring two runs putting UCF ahead 4-3. Rich Wallace smacked a three-run home run pushing the Golden Knights ahead 7-3.

Samford scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the 3-0 lead early. After Matt Alling reached on an error, Sae Evans singled and stole second giving the Bulldogs runners in scoring position. Robert Evans singled in Alling for a 1-0 lead. Justin Klinger doubled down the left field line clearing the bases.

UCF cut into its deficit in the top of the second. Drew Butera's RBI single made it 3-1. The Golden Knights got within 3-2 in the top of the fourth when Bear, who was hit by a pitch and stole second, scored on a wild pitch.

The Golden Knights added four runs in the final two innings. Ryan Bono had a RBI double in the top of the eighth to make it 8-3. UCF scored three runs in the top of the ninth on two hits and two Samford errors.

Sae Evans, Robert Evans, Eric Hollis, Klinger and Michael Collins each had one hit for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs and Golden Knights wrap up the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.