 "Photo: Josh Given")
The Knights dropped the "War on I-4" rivalry game against the USF Bulls on Tuesday night, giving up a late lead to lose 6-5.
The Knights lost the after leading 4-2 in the eighth. Holding a late lead is something that head coach Terry Rooney emphasizes to his team constantly.
"At the end of the day we talk about winning the last three innings and today we didn't win the last three," Rooney said. "Every opportunity matters, every situation matters, every pitch matters. We have to learn that. That everything matters in these close games."
Sophomore Brian Adkins pitched 6-2/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits and struck out four in his fourth outing of the season. Adkins was set to have his fourth win of the season until USF's offense produced four runs in the eighth inning against D.J. Hicks.
Adkins walked his first batter of the season in the game.
"It shouldn't be overshadowed that Brian Adkins had a tremendous outing today," Rooney said on his southpaw starter. "He pitched another great game today and is doing a terrific job with staying low in the zone and getting ahead on batters."
The Knights' offense produced three home runs in the game; two of them were hit by designated hitter and pitcher Hicks, the other from first baseman Jonathan Griffin. It was Hicks' third two-homer game of his career. Hicks and Griffin lead the team with four home runs this season.
The team had their strongest offensive inning in the bottom of the fourth. Griffin hit a solo shot to lead off the inning. Chris Taladay was hit by a pitch and Hicks hit a homerun to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
The Knights held a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth with Hicks pitching. However, USF responded by scoring four two-out runs in the inning to jump out to a 6-4 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hicks hit his second homerun of the game to cut the lead to one.
The Knights are now 13-4 on the season. Their 13-game home-stand will end this weekend after their series against Ivy-Leaguers Columbia.
Rooney knows that Columbia is a good team and will be no cakewalk.
"We have to bounce back..." Rooney said. "They play everyone, they have a great schedule and we have to be ready to go on Friday."
The Knights take on Columbia on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and end the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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