ORLANDO -The winningest team in A-Sun Championship history, the UCF Golden Knights (42-14) enter this week’s A-Sun Championship in DeLand with their fourth A-Sun Regular Season Title in five years after winning the conference regular season crown with a 24-6 mark.
The Golden Knights face No. 6 seed Campbell in the opening game of the 2004 A-Sun Championship at Melching Field at Conrad Park in DeLand Wednesday.
The Golden Knights swept Campbell earlier in the season in Buies Creek, N.C.
UCF enters the tournament with a three-game winning streak after a three-game sweep at Georgia State to close out the 2004 A-Sun Regular Season.
All of UCF’s games in the A-Sun Championship will air on the UCF ISP Sports Network. Any game that starts prior to 3 p.m. will be an Internet only broadcast via Yahoo! Sports. Wednesday’s game will air via the Internet only with the voice of the Golden Knights, Marc Daniels.
Seven Capture A-Sun Honors
UCF junior pitcher Matt Fox was named the 2004 Atlantic Sun Pitcher-of-the-Year while UCF head coach Jay Bergman was named the 2004 Atlantic Sun Coach-of-the-Year, the conference office announced Tuesday. In addition, six other UCF players garnered A-Sun First Team, Second Team or Freshmen Team honors.
Joining Fox on the A-Sun All-Conference First Team include sophomore pitcher Kyle Bono and junior outfielders Dee Brown and Clay Timpner. Junior shortstop Chandler Rose was chosen to the A-Sun All-Conference Second Team while freshmen RHP Taylor Meier and infielder Matt Ray garnered A-Sun All-Freshmen Team accolades.
Fox was chosen as the A-Sun’s Pitcher-of-the-Year in the first year the conference has offered the award. A three-time A-Sun Pitcher-of-the-Week in 2004, Fox leads UCF with a 12-2 record and 1.84 ERA. In 98.0 innings, Fox has 112 strikeouts (fifth in UCF single-season history) and his 12 wins are tied for third in single-season history.
The Coral Springs native has also been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Roger Clemens Award and is on the Watch Lists for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy. A mid-season All-America selection by Baseball America, Fox was recently named the 51st-rated prospect by Baseball America for the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. Fox was also named a national player of the week two different times during the 2004 campaign.
Bergman was named the A-Sun Coach-of-the-Year for a record-setting third time. The dean of all A-Sun coaches, Bergman is the winningest coach in conference history and is also ranked among the top 25 all-time in wins in NCAA history. Bergman turned UCF around from a 31-25 record in 2003 including a 14-16 A-Sun mark to a 42-14 record in 2004 including a 24-6 A-Sun record and two top 25 rankings. UCF was voted third in both the A-Sun Coaches and Media Preseason Polls.
Bono put together a fantastic season on the hill to give UCF one of the nation’s top 1-2 pitching tandems with Fox. The Lake Mary native is 8-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 88.2 innings of work. Bono set a school record with five shutouts in 2004 and ranks among the school’s all-time leaders in single-season strikeouts and ERA. Bono was a three-time A-Sun Pitcher-of-the-Week during the 2004 campaign.
Timpner put up numbers worthy of A-Sun Player-of-the-Year honors. The junior from LaBelle leads UCF in batting (.381), at-bats (218), runs (61), hits (83), doubles (16), triples (5), home runs (5), total bases (124), slugging percentage (.569) and stolen bases (39). He is among the school’s career leaders in hits, stolen bases, total bases and runs scored.
Brown has joined Timpner in forming one of the league’s top outfields. One of only two Golden Knights to start every game (Timpner), Brown has been the team’s leading RBI producer with 55 in 2004. The Brooksville native ranks second on the team in batting (.356), at-bats (194), runs (41), hits (69), home runs (4), total bases (94) and slugging percentage (.485). Brown was a two-time A-Sun Player-of-the-Week in 2004.
Rose had a strong season in his first year in Orlando after transferring from the University of New Orleans. The shortstop hit over .300 for the entire season and ranks second on the team with 15 doubles. One of the most versatile players on the roster, Rose also started 13 games at first base and UCF went a perfect 13-0 when Rose started at first.
Meier became one of the most effective freshman pitchers in the nation as the Altamonte Springs native went 5-3 with a 2.39 ERA. In 60.1 innings of work, Meier fanned 45 and opponents batted just .217 vs. the right-hander. Meier is third on the team in innings pitched and strikeouts, behind Fox and Bono.
Ray became a fixture at second base and in the two-hole in the batting order for Bergman. The Tennessee native is batting .331 in 43 games including 36 starts in 2004. A slick fielder with a strong arm, Ray has stolen 17 bases in 18 attempts.
A-Sun Tournament Facts
UCF owns the top winning percentage and the most tournament titles of any A-Sun school entering this week’s tournament. The Golden Knights boast an A-Sun Championships winning percentage of .758 (25-8), more than 100 points better than the next closest opponent.
UCF’s six league championship tournament trophies also lead the league. UCF has captured the tournament title in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002.
Melching Magic
UCF is 11-2 all-time at Melching Field at Conrad Park, including a perfect 4-0 mark in tournament play. The Golden Knights won the 2002 A-Sun Tournament Title at Melching Field.
Stetson Hospitality
UCF has taken full advantage of when Stetson has hosted the A-Sun Tournament. The Golden Knights are an amazing 15-1 all-time when Stetson has hosted the tournament, including titles in 2002, 1997, 1996 and 1993.
Another 40-Win Campaign
For the 14th time under the legendary tenure of head coach Jay Bergman, UCF captured a 40-win season with its 11-0 win at Georgia State. The 40-win season marked the fourth time in five years UCF has reached the 40-win mark.
Bergman Continues To Win
UCF head coach Jay Bergman has moved into sole possession of 22nd place on the NCAA all-time victories list for a head coach. Bergman has 1,086 career wins, 13 victories behind former Arizona State head coach Jim Brock for 21st in the NCAA rankings. Bergman is just 14 wins away from becoming the 21st head coach in NCAA history to reach the 1,100-win plateau.
Plenty Of Zeros
The 2004 UCF baseball team has smashed the school record for single-season shutouts with 13, breaking the old mark of seven set in 1995 and 1977.
UCF Single-Season Shutouts
Rank Shutouts Year
1. 13 2004
2. 7 1995
2. 7 1977
4. 6 2001
4. 6 1997
4. 6 1990
Four Toss Shutouts
For the first time in school history, UCF has four different pitchers who have thrown complete-game shutouts in 2004. Kyle Bono leads the team with five and Matt Fox has three complete-game shutouts. Darren Newlin also fired a one-hit shutout vs. Belmont and Taylor Meier worked nine innings for a five-hit shutout of USF.
Bono Ties Career Shutout Mark
Kyle Bono tied Brian Ahern for UCF’s career lead in complete-game shutouts with his fifth vs. Troy State May 1. Bono limited the Trojans to seven hits with 10 strikeouts to improve to 7-0.
All five of Bono’s shutouts have come against A-Sun competition this season. The five shutouts are also a single-season record at UCF.
A First Time For Everything
After playing baseball for 31 seasons, the UCF baseball team accomplished something it never did before vs. Belmont. The Golden Knights swept their first three-game series without allowing a run, as they shutout the Bruins in all three games.
The last time UCF had three straight shutouts was in 1975. UCF shutout Bethune-Cookman in the final three games of a four-game series vs. the Wildcats. UCF blanked FIT 15-0 in the next game to set the school record with four consecutive shutout wins.
UCF In The Rankings
UCF is ranked No. 20 in the latest Collegiate Baseball News Top 30 poll and No. 25 in the Baseball America Top 25 poll. The Golden Knights are also receiving votes in this week’s Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches poll.
The highest ranking in school history was in 2001 when the Golden Knights reached as high as No. 7 in the national polls.
On The Hill For UCF
Although the pitching rotation has yet to be announced, the Golden Knights will choose from four right-handed starters in the A-Sun Championships.
The Golden Knights could send Matt Fox, Taylor Meier, Kyle Bono or Darren Newlin to the hill.
Fox leads the team with a 12-2 record in 2004. The junior from Coral Springs pitched his third complete-game shutout last Friday at Georgia State. He limited the Panthers to two soft singles and totaled 12 strikeouts. For the season, Fox has 112 strikeouts in 98.0 innings of work. The 112 strikeouts place him fifth in UCF single-season history while his 12 wins are tied for third in single-season history. Only Justin Pope (15) and Jason Arnold (14) have more wins in a year than Fox. Both Pope and Arnold set their marks in 2001.
Kyle Bono is 8-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 16 appearances in 2004. Bono was not his usual self last time out vs. Georgia State, lasting just 2.0 innings. The Lake Mary product has still been one of the nation’s top pitchers in 2004, posting 100 strikeouts in 88.2 innings of work. Opponents are batting just .195 off the right-hander. Bono ranks eighth in UCF single-season history in strikeouts and first in single-season shutouts (5).
Meier has been one of the top freshman pitchers in the nation in 2004. UCF’s mid-week starter for the majority of the season, Meier has made just one A-Sun appearance. Overall, Meier is 5-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 60.1 innings of work. In his last start at No. 6 Notre Dame, Meier limited the Fighting Irish to just two earned runs over 7.1 innings in the tough-luck loss. Over his last three starts, Meier has a 1.21 ERA in 22.2 innings of work.
The other candidate to start for UCF is junior right-hander Darren Newlin. The Tallahassee product is 4-0 in 2004 with a 2.47 ERA in 15 appearances. Newlin has been UCF’s third starter in A-Sun play over the final four conference series of the season.
Oh So Close
Darren Newlin came within one out of becoming the first UCF pitcher to ever throw a no-hitter in his first career start vs. Belmont. Newlin pitched 6.2 innings of no-hit baseball before a two-out single in the seventh spoiled the no-hit bid.
Newlin would have been just the second pitcher in school history to record a no-hitter. He did finish with a complete-game shutout to defeat Belmont 2-0.
Fox, Bono On Record Pace
If anyone asked Jay Bergman if two pitchers could ever duplicate the spectacular seasons of Justin Pope and Jason Arnold from 2001, his answer most likely would be a quick no.
Matt Fox and Kyle Bono have pitched on the same elite level in 2004 drawing comparisons to the best 1-2 pitching tandem in single-season school history.
Pope was a consensus first-team All-American in 2001 after finishing the year 15-1 with a 1.68 ERA, 158 strikeouts and a streak of 38.1 consecutive scoreless innings. Pope was named the A-Sun Player of the Year and was a four-time A-Sun Pitcher of the Week award winner and two-time national player of the week winner. Pope capped off the amazing season as the St. Louis Cardinals selected Pope in the first round of the first-year player draft.
All Arnold did was go 14-3 with a 1.97 ERA and 150 strikeouts. The second-team All-American was a second round draft selection of the New York Yankees.
Settling In At Second
Freshman Matt Ray has taken over the starting duties at second base and has become a mainstay in the UCF lineup in the No. 2 hole.
Ray is hitting .339 in 43 games including 36 starts. The Tennessee native has stolen 17 bases in 18 attempts.
When Ray starts at second base, UCF is 22-10 on the year. The Golden Knights are 24-9 when Ray hits in the No. 2 spot.
First Inning Fireworks
The UCF offense has been explosive through the first inning in 2004. The Golden Knights are outscoring the opposition 54-27 in the first inning.
The early scoring has been a factor all season long for UCF. The Golden Knights’ best inning of the year is in the third, when UCF has outscored the opposition 56-14.
Road Warriors
UCF is 18-7 away from Jay Bergman Field in 2004 including a 12-3 mark in the conference.
Getting The Green Light
Jay Bergman was confident in his team’s speed entering the 2004 season and his players are showing why Bergman was so confident. The Golden Knights have stolen 98 bases in 122 attempts on the year while limiting their opponents to just 50 steals in 75 attempts.
UCF stole a season-high eight bases May 14 vs. Mercer in the series opener.
The 2004 club will become just the 11th team in school history to reach the 100-steal plateau with two more stolen bags.
UCF Team Stolen Base Leaders
Team Steals
1. 1985 253
2. 1981 204
3. 1986 130
4. 2001 115
5. 1990 113
6. 1995 111
7. 1984 107
7. 1988 107
9. 1987 106
10. 1996 104
11. 1999 100
12. 1993 98
12. 2004 98
Starting On The Right Note
UCF’s starting pitchers are 32-9 this season with a 2.84 ERA. In 56 appearances, the starters have totaled 302 strikeouts and just 132 walks in 313.0 innings of work.
Depth Shows At Clemson
UCF’s bullpen came through with flying colors at Clemson. In 6.1 innings, the UCF bullpen yielded just two runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
Sophomore Mike Billek made his first two appearances of the season and gave UCF something it has looked for all season in a closer.
Billek pitched the final 1.2 innings Sunday to clinch the 3-2 victory and series win. Billek limited Clemson to no hits over his 1.2 innings for his first save of the year and second career save.
UCF vs. A-Sun Competition
UCF has a winning record vs. every current member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
UCF vs. A-Sun Champ. Field
Team W-L
Campbell 24-4 (.857)
Florida Atlantic 36-20 (.642)
Gardner-Webb 4-2 (.667)
Stetson 57-41 (.581)
Troy 15-6 (.714)
Baseball Begins Quest For Seventh A-Sun Title
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