ORLANDO, Fla. – The Knights completed a three game sweep in their opening weekend on Sunday, winning their closest game of the series 9-6 following victories of 8-1 on Friday night and 11-4 on Saturday.
The victory on Sunday came after a weekend of domination for UCF, who is dealing with serious roster turnover after bringing in over 20 new faces to the team.
Freshman Robby Howell got his first start in the last game against Siena, and was able to maintain his composure through the first three innings with ease before suffering through a tough 4 run fourth inning. Howell was able to pitch himself out of the jam, finishing the inning but not taking the mound again after that. Over the 4.0 innings pitched, the newcomer struck out 2, walked 1 and allowed 8 hits.
It was the offensive prowess that served as the Knights’ saving grace and stable platform this weekend, however. Kam Gellinger and Tommy Williams absolutely tore the cover off the ball, combining for eleven hits – five of them for extra bases – two homeruns, seven RBIs and two stolen bases. The two of them were the only players on the roster this weekend to either hit a homerun or steal a base.
Gellinger began his Knights’ career Saturday night with a towering fly ball that had just enough carry it over the right field wall.
“Honestly, I thought it was a pop fly when I first hit it,” said Gellinger after Game 2. “Then I saw it carrying…. And carrying.”
The at bat was a decisive statement about the third baseman’s approach with the bat, preluding an almost perfect weekend. In eight trips to the plate he drew a team leading three walks, racked up four hits, drove in three runs, scoured four himself, stole a base, hit both a triple and a homerun. His only blemish was reaching first base on a fielding error at sort. Not once was he unable to make a contribution on offense, always finding ways to produce.
Even after missing the first game, Gellinger leads the team in walks, slugging percentage, runs scored and on base percentage. It was a highly impressive first impression in a season where everyone is scrapping to solidify their role on this fresh-faced team.
Tommy Williams was the only other Knight to take Siena deep this weekend, launching a homerun to left field in the eighth inning of Sunday’s finale; effectively hammering the nail into Siena’s coffin. Williams is off to a hot start of his own after amassing three RBIs Sunday night, hitting above the .500 mark and leading the team in total bases with 12.
Equally impressive was junior college transfer Joe Marotta, pitching in relief for UCF on Saturday night. Marotta was only given five batters to face – but struck out three, walked one and enticed a groundout with the other.
“Whatever the situation, whatever Coach Rooney wants me to do, I’m gonna do it – bottom line. I thrive on that, I want that spotlight” said Marotta.
A craftsman on the mound with nasty breaking stuff, Marotta leaned heavily on his slider Saturday night while keeping everyone he faced utterly off-keel. Coming off a season in which he had 91 strikeouts in a mere 87.1 innings pitched, look for him to continue his aggressive style from the bump all year.
The Knights will continue the long season ahead in Gainesville on Tuesday night, facing a UF team who is 2-1 after a series against Maryland this weekend. The game is scheduled for a 7 pm start.
