Jan. 13, 2006
ORLANDO - The UCF baseball team officially starts preparations for the 2006 season Monday with the first day of practice. The Golden Knights return 19 letterwinners from last season's 42-18 club that finished tied for second in the Atlantic Sun.
With its move to Conference USA, UCF finds itself in one of the top five baseball leagues in the nation in 2006. With nine teams in C-USA competing in baseball, UCF will play 24 conference games vs. the other eight schools. The Golden Knights host East Carolina, Rice, UAB and Memphis at Jay Bergman Field while going on the road to face Tulane, Houston, Southern Miss and Marshall. Rice is ranked No. 7 in Baseball America's preseason top 25 poll while Tulane is ranked No. 12.
"We are all anxious to get started and look forward to the new conference and competition," stated UCF head baseball coach Jay Bergman. "With all of the young players we have and the new conference, it is going to be an exciting season."
The Golden Knights have three weeks of practice before opening day at Florida International Saturday, Feb. 4 in Miami. UCF makes its home debut Friday, Feb. 17 vs. North Florida.