March 22, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ryan Bear's sacrifice fly scored the winning run in the eighth inning of game one and Dee Brown went 2-for-3 with two RBI in game two as UCF swept the Atlantic Sun doubleheader, 11-10, and, 6-4, from Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field Saturday afternoon. The Golden Knights (19-8, 4-2 A-Sun) completed the series sweep of the Bulldogs (5-19, 2-10 A-Sun).

Mark Michael (4-1) got the win for the Golden Knights allowing four runs on five hits while striking out six in seven innings in game two. Alan Bryan (0-3) took the loss for Samford. Bryan struck out three batters and allowed six runs in seven innings. Sae Evans led Samford going 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Blaine Schulte went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored for UCF.

The Golden Knights broke on top 3-0 in the top of the first inning. David Mann, who was hit by a pitch, scored on Clay Timpner's ground out. Brown and Blaine Schulte RBI singles wrapped up the scoring. Samford got within 3-2 in the bottom of the first. Sae Evans and Eric Hollis each singled with one out. Justin Klinger walked to load the bases. Hunter Tubbs grounded out to first base scoring Sae Evans. Hollis scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2.

UCF added one run in the second, third and fifth innings to lead 6-2. The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Richard Bishop walked and Joe Denson singled to right field, Michael walked Matt Alling. Sae Evans singled up the middle scoring Bishop to make it 6-3 with one out. With the bases still loaded, Michael struck out Eric Hollis and Klinger getting out of the jam.

Bishop's first career home run in the bottom of the sixth cut the UCF lead to 6-4, but Michael didn't give up another run.

UCF rallied twice from six-run deficits to force game one into extra innings. Trailing 10-4, the Golden Knights scored two runs in the top of the fifth on RBI singles from Ryan Bear and Dee Brown to make it, 10-6. UCF tied the game, 10-10 with four runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Ryan Bono doubled and advanced to third on P.J. Lehmann's single. David Mann then walked to load the bases. Nathan Kragt singled in Bono cutting the Samford lead to 10-7. Clay Timpner cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to left center tying the game.

Samford scored four runs in the bottom of the first taking the early 4-0 lead. Alling singled to lead off the inning. Robert Evans tripled scoring Alling as Samford led 1-0. Justin Klinger doubled in Robert Evans for the 2-0 lead. Klinger scored on Kip Snowden's single and Snowden added the last run of the inning on Joe Denson's single up the middle.

The Bulldogs added three more runs in the bottom of the second for a 7-1 advantage. Alling singled to left field and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. Sae Evans singled through the left side moving Alling to third. Robert Evans' sacrifice fly scored Alling to make it 5-1. Snowden's two-RBI single to center field scored Sae Evans and Klinger.

Bear's three-run home run in the top of the third cut the UCF deficit to 7-4. The Bulldogs added one run in the bottom of the third. Hunter Tubbs doubled down the right field line and moved to third Alling's single. Sae Evans' flied out to center field to score Tubbs for an 8-4 lead.

Samford added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Bishop singled in Snowden and Bishop scored on a wild pitch as the Bulldogs led 10-4.

UCF scored the game-winner in the top of the eighth. After three consecutive infield hits loaded the bases, Bear flied out to right field scoring Mann. Samford got the tying run on base when Justin Worthington singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Worthington advanced to second on an error by the pitcher. Bono then got three straight outs to end the game.

The Bulldogs recorded a season-high 18 hits in the first game of the doubleheader. Kyle Bono, the fourth UCF pitcher, picked up the win. Bono pitched three scoreless innings while striking out three. Robert Evans (0-2) took the loss in relief. Evans allowed one run on five hits in 1 2/3 innings. Snowden went 3-for-5 with three RBI while Klinger was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Alling was 3-for-5 with two runs scored while Robert Evans, Bishop and Tubbs each had two hits.

Bragt led UCF going 3-for-4 with one RBI and four runs scored. Timpner went 3-for-5 with four RBI while Bear was 2-for-4 with five RBI.

The Bulldogs have the week off before heading to Boca Raton, Fla. to face Florida Atlantic in a three-game conference series.