Baseball Outslugs UCF in West Palm, 11-8

Tuesday, May 8

West Palm Beach, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

32-14-1

UCF

32-17

UCF

Florida Atlantic

5/8/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 8, 2018

Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A week after combining for three runs in a 10-inning game, Florida Atlantic University baseball and UCF needed just an inning and a half to exceed that, and the Owls outlasted the Knights Tuesday at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, 11-8.

Quotable

"Jordan Poore picked us up, that was a really, really good performance," said Head Coach John McCormack. "He settled down and got valuable outs, then Drew (Peden), has been really good for us these two years. The offense was really good, Dave (Miranda) had a good night, Jared (DeSantolo) had a good night, we had 12 hits. This has to be a record in my career, six stolen bases tonight. All in all, it's a Tuesday night and I'm glad we won."

The Turning Point

UCF (32-17) was up 4-2 heading into the bottom of the third, but FAU (32-14-1) reclaimed the lead just four batters in. A two-run triple by David Miranda plated two, and on the very next pitch, he came in on an Eric Rivera RBI groundout to make it 5-4. Though the Knights squared it again their next turn, what would prove to be the game-winner came in the home fourth, as Richie Nizza reached on an error, stole both second and third, and scored on a two-out RBI single by Joe Montes.

The Finish

Three more in the fifth (two on a bases-loaded single by Jared DeSantolo, the other on a Nizza RBI single), and two in the sixth (Cody Wilson hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and a DeSantolo fielder's choice RBI) wrapped the FAU scoring. UCF was kept off the board after a three-run sixth, with Jordan Poore throwing 2 2/3 scoreless, and Drew Peden wrapping it with a zero in the ninth.

The Bats

In addition to his triple, Miranda also had a double, three runs scored and two RBI
Rivera also had a three-hit night and three runs scored, while Gunnar Lambert reached three times on two hits plus a walk
DeSantolo matched his career best with a team-high three knocked in
The six stolen bases came courtesy of two each by Nizza and Wilson, and one apiece from DeSantolo and Rivera

The Arms

Zach Schneider earned the win to go to 4-1, coming in in the fourth and striking out three in 2 1/3
Poore's 2 2/3-inning stint was hitless and included four K's
The first two batters in the ninth reached against Peden, but he retired the next three, the last on a punchout

What's Next

Just six games remain on FAU's regular season schedule: three this weekend, beginning Friday in Murfreesboro, Tennessee against Middle Tennessee, and the final home series, vs. WKU, May 17-19. For the latter, purchase tickets by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visiting www.fausports.com/tickets/baseball-tickets.html.