Columbia
UCF
Baseball Downed at No. 9 UCF
3/6/2015 10:26:00 PM | Baseball
BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Columbia baseball team fell at No. 9 UCF, 9-1, Friday night in the series opener. The Lions fell to 2-3 on the young season with the defeat.
The Lions had a great opportunity in the top of the first, loading the bases after singles by Will Savage and Jordan Serena followed by a walk by Robb Paller. UCF starting pitcher Zach Rodgers buckled down, striking out the next two batters and induced a fielder's choice to get out of the jam.
Senior Joey Falcone registered his third big fly of the season, taking the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to put Columbia up 1-0 in the second.
In the bottom of the frame, the Knights (12-2) went ahead after a Dylan Moore RBI single and an error on the play.
After tacking on a run in the fifth, UCF added two more insurance runs in the sixth on a sac fly and a James Vasquez single to plate another Knight. UCF busted the game open after an error on a potential double-play ground ball. Later in the inning, the Knights' Kyle Marsh delivered the big blow, a two-run double to extend to margin to 9-1.
George Thanopoulos took the loss (0-1), allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits in 5.1 innings. The junior righty also struck out four in the outing. Willis Robbins threw
Senior Jordan Serena went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 13 games and on-base streak to 19 contests, dating back to last season.
Game two of the series is set for a 4 p.m. start on Saturday, March 7.
