Columbia
UCF
No. 9 UCF Completes Sweep of Baseball
3/8/2015 1:13:00 PM | Baseball
BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Columbia baseball team dropped its series finale to No. 9 UCF, 9-3, Sunday afternoon. The Lions fell to 2-5 on the year.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Knights (14-2) in the top of the second and starting pitcher Ryan Marks issued another base on balls to bring in the first run. Dylan Moore then stepped up and belted a grand slam to make it 5-0.
The Lions kept UCF off the board until the sixth, when the Knights put four on the board, highlighted by a two-run blast by Derrick Salberg.
Columbia finally broke through in the top of the seventh. Randell Kanemaru recorded a leadoff single and a walk to David Vandercook set up Will Savage's RBI single, making it a 9-1 ballgame.
The Lions tacked on two more in the top of the ninth after a Robb Paller single and an error brought in John Kinne, who drew a walk earlier in the frame. Joey Falcone followed with a triple down the rightfield line, but that would be as close as Columbia would come.
Marks took the decision (0-1), lasting 3.1 innings. He allowed five runs on two hits and four walks and struck out three batters.
Falcone and Paller each went 2-for-5. Jordan Serena went 0-for-5, ending his hitting streak at 14 games and on-base streak at 20.
Columbia will open a nine-day, 10-game spring break trip with a two-game series with UNC Greensboro in Wilmington, North Carolina. Game one will be on Saturday, March 14 at 12 p.m.
