Manhattan University Athletics

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Orlando, FL - Sophomore Fabian Pena (Miami, FL / Calusa Prep) went 3-for-3 with a walk but it wasn't enough as UCF defeated Manhattan 7-2 in the series finale between teams at the UCF Baseball Complex.

The Golden Knights improve to &-0 while the Jaspers fall to 0-3.

UCF opened the scoring with a pair of first-inning runs on Brennan Bozeman's two-run single up the middle.

Senior Joey Rocchietti (Green Brook, NJ / Watchung Hills) would then settle down and allowed just two hits over the next four innings of work.

After Fabian Pena singled with one out in the first, the Jaspers failed to record a hit until the top of the sixth when senior Jose Carrera (Miami, FL / St. Brendan) reached via a one-out bunt single.

The Golden Knights then went to the bullpen and Pena delivered his second hit of the game with a single through the left side while advancing Carrera to third. Later in the frame, junior Michael Pfenninger (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) was plunked to load up the bases two outs. Senior Evan Brown (Ashburnham, MA / Bridgton Academy (ME)) followed with a bases loaded walk to force in Carrera before sophomore Richie Barrella (Larchmont, NY / Canterbury Prep) reached via an error, allowing Pena to cross the plate while tying the game up at 2-2.

Unfortunately, UCF immediately responded in the bottom part of the frame with three runs on Ryan Crile's three-run double.

The Golden Knights would add two runs in the seventh in providing the final 7-2 score.

Rocchietti was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs over 5.1 innings with two strikeouts and two pick-offs.

Bozeman went 2-for-3 with three RBI to pace a 10-hit UCF attack.

Manhattan returns to action at FIU on Friday, March 3 with opening pitch slated for 7:00 pm.