Box Score Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF)Orlando, FL - UCF defeated Manhattan 13-3 in the season opener for the Jaspers at the UCF Baseball Complex.
Junior
Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) went 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI while seniors
Jose Carrera (Miami, FL / St. Brendan) and
Matt Forlow (Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) each notched multiple-hits.
With no score in the top of the second, Pfenninger led off with a single before moving to second on a one-out error. Sophomore
Paul Genners (Jacksonville, FL / Stanton College Prep) followed with a run-scoring double in opening the scoring.
After junior LHP
Joe Jacques (Shrewsbury, NJ / Red Bank Regional) picked a runner off and induced a double play, the Jaspers went back to work in the top of the third. Forlow crushed a two-out double before coming around to score on a Pfenninger RBI single.
Unfortunately, the Golden Knights responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame before adding another run in the fifth in opening up a 5-2 lead.
Manhattan would get one run back in the top of the sixth as Pfenninger led off with his third hit of the game and would come around to score on a
Paul Genners RBI ground out.
From that point, it was all UCF as the hosts scored six in the bottom of the frame before adding two in the seventh in providing the final 13-3 count.
Senior
Evan Brown (Ashburnham, MA / Bridgton Academy (ME)) and junior
Brendan Bisset (New City, NY / Don Bosco Prep (NJ)) to round out the top performers on offense for the Jaspers.
Three different Golden Knights had multiple-hits while Robby Howell struck out six over 6.1 innings in moving to 2-0 on the year.
The teams will continue their series on Saturday, February 25 at 6:30 pm.
