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Knights earn sweep after beating Stetson 7-6

Baseball Beat Writer

Published: Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Updated: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 14:05

hempe

Jonathan Virgilio

Erik Hempe more than delivered in UCF's 7-6 victory at No. 21 Stetson on Tuesday night.

The right fielder paced the Knights (34-19) at the plate, going 4-for-5 with all four hits earning extra bases. In a six-run third inning, Hempe knocked out UCF's second home run of the inning, a two-run shot to left field that gave the Knights a 6-1 advantage.

"I knew it was gone," Hempe said in a release. "I got a good piece and got it up in the jet stream."

Hempe later led off the fifth with his second of three doubles and came around to score what ended up being UCF's final and winning run. Stetson scored five runs in four innings to close the gap, forcing the Knights to rely on closer Joe Rogers once again.

The southpaw entered a one-run ballgame after Nick Cicio gave up a solo home run and got two outs.

After striking out the first batter in the bottom of the ninth, Rogers issued a walk and gave up a single. Rogers kept his cool and induced a fly out and a ground out with the tying and winning runs aboard to earn his eighth save of the season.

"At this time of year it's all about the bottom line," head coach Terry Rooney said in a release. "Throughout the year it's about the process, but right now to get to where we need to get to, it's about the bottom line. And we found a way to hold on to the lead and get it done."

Ray Hanson picked up his fourth win of the season, allowing three hits and two earned runs over five innings.

Stetson's closer Robbie Powell made just his second start of the season and took the loss for the Hatters (39-14).

With one out in the top of the third, Powell plunked Ronnie Richardson and the Knights took immediate advantage. Beau Taylor singled and D.J. Hicks brought both around with a three-run homer. After Jonathan Griffin singled, Derek Luciano kept the inning alive with an RBI-double and Hempe's two-run blast followed.

"Tonight was a big game for us," Hempe said in a release. "They've been pretty hot, but we had that one good inning that helped us get the win."

The Knights enter their final regular season series on a five-game winning streak. They will host Marshall from May 19-21 before competing in the C-USA Tournament.

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