Feb. 27, 2006
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ORLANDO - UCF (4-5) continues an 11-game homestand at Jay Bergman Field this week with a pair of mid-week games. The Golden Knights face Bethune-Cookman Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before playing host to Michigan Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
? UCF earned its first win of the season Feb. 7 at Bethune-Cookman with an 8-4 victory over the Wildcats.
? The Golden Knights have won three consecutive games after sweeping a weekend series from Stony Brook. UCF won a pair of one-run contests from the Seawolves for its first series sweep of the season.
? UCF hit .299 as a team vs. Stony Brook, but pitching was the story of the weekend. UCF's pitching staff had a team ERA of 1.67 in 27 innings, including 24 strikeouts and 11 walks. The Seawolves hit just .182 vs. the Golden Knights.
? Audio of the Bethune-Cookman and Michigan games are available on UCFAthletics.com as part of the "Golden Knights All-Access" package.
Inside the Bethune-Cookman Series
? UCF holds a 60-13 series advantage vs. Bethune-Cookman, including nine straight victories. The last win for Bethune-Cookman in the series was an 18-5 triumph on April 22, 2003 in Orlando.
? UCF has won four straight games vs. the Wildcats at Jay Bergman Field. During the four-game winning streak, the Golden Knights have outscored the Wildcats 42-4.
? UCF has four upperclassmen with career batting averages of .300 or better vs. Bethune-Cookman. Junior IF Matt Ray leads the way with a .448 average in nine career games vs. the Wildcats. Ray is 13-for-29 all-time vs. B-CC with four stolen bases, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored. All 13 hits have been singles.
? Sophomore OF Tyson Auer (.429), senior C Ryan Bono (.308) and senior IF Dave Lambert (.364) have also put up strong career numbers vs. the Wildcats.
? On the bump, sophomore RHP Taylor Meier has been outstanding vs. B-CC. In three career starts, Meier is 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings. He has totaled 20 strikeouts and Bethune-Cookman is batting just .181 vs. the right-hander.
The Book on Bethune-Cookman
? Bethune-Cookman (3-11) lost all three games over the weekend at No. 16 Miami. The Wildcats lost by scores of 4-3, 9-1 and 9-1 to the host Hurricanes.
? The Wildcats have lost six straight games since their 4-3 victory over Stetson Feb. 14 in Daytona Beach.
? Bethune-Cookman is hitting .204 as a team with four home runs and 36 RBI. The Wildcats have stolen 11 bases in 22 attempts.
? On the mound. B-CC's pitchers have a team ERA of 5.60. In 119 innings, the Wildcats have yielded 132 hits with 84 strikeouts and 64 walks. Opponents are batting .280 against the Wildcat pitching staff.
? Senior RHP Raphael Kyles is Tuesday's scheduled starter. Kyles is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA in four appearances, including three starts. In 9.1 innings, he has yielded 20 hits, 16 runs (12 earned) with eight walks and two strikeouts. Opponents are batting .417 vs. the senior right-hander.
Starting on the Mound for UCF
? Mitch Herold will start Tuesday on the bump for the Golden Knights. The freshman southpaw is 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two appearances, including one start.
? In his first career start vs. North Florida, Herold did not allow a hit over 3.2 innings of work. The lefty struck out a career-high six, but walked five batters.
The Dominator
? Senior closer Dominic Petracca has been nearly untouchable to start the 2006 campaign. The Sanford native has appeared in seven games and totaled four saves, while posting a perfect 0.00 ERA.
? In 9.0 innings, Petracca has yielded just four hits while opponents are batting just .129 against him.
? He has registered eight strikeouts and just one walk in seven games.
? In the Stony Brook series, Petracca saved all three games, including two one-run wins. He struck out the side on just 13 pitches in the series-opening 1-0 victory on Feb. 24.
? Petracca is tied for fifth in UCF career history with eight saves.
Sizzling Shortstop
? Freshmen Eric Kallstrom has made the most of his starting opportunity at shortstop for the Golden Knights. With junior Jon Cooper out of the lineup with an arm injury, Kallstrom has played terrific baseball at shortstop for the Golden Knights.
? Kallstrom led UCF in batting with a .556 batting average in the three-game sweep of Stony Brook. The rookie was 5-for-9 at the plate, including his first career home run in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Seawolves.
You Can Put on the Board, Yes!
? Freshmen Ryan Williams hit his first career home run in an 8-3 victory over Stony Brook on Feb. 25. Williams yanked a fastball over the fence in right field for his first career long ball.
? Williams has been one of the team's best hitters in the early going with a .350 batting average.
? He leads the team in slugging percentage (.650) and extra-base hits (3).
? One of the most versatile players on the roster, Williams has seen action at third base, shortstop, left field and right field.
Who's Hot ...
? Eric Kallstrom and freshman OF Dave DiNatale have been swinging hot bats for the Golden Knights. Kallstrom is batting .556 in his last three games while DiNatale is hitting .444.
? Senior C Ryan Bono is batting .385 in his last three games while freshman OF Shane Ynclan and Ryan Williams are both hitting .333 for the Golden Knights.
Shane the Slugger
? Shane Ynclan broke out of an early season slump in a big way Feb. 25 vs. Stony Brook. The Melbourne product was 4-for-5 with three RBI in the Golden Knights' 8-3 victory.
? Ynclan entered the Stony Brook series batting .083, but raised his average 125 points over the weekend vs. the Seawolves.
Bono's Back Behind the Dish
? Senior catcher Ryan Bono has excelled in the early going at his natural position behind the dish for the Golden Knights. The Lake Mary product leads the team in batting (.364), hits (12), doubles (3) and total bases (18).
? Bono has thrown out 45.5 percent (5-of-11) of opposing players attempting to steal this season.
? In 2005, opponents were successful 73 percent of the time (8-of-11) attempting to steal vs. Bono. Bono spilt time behind the dish last season with Drew Butera, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the New York Mets.
This Day in UCF Baseball History
? Feb. 28, 1976 - In the first game played on this date in UCF history, the Golden Knights dropped a 4-0 decision to South Florida at McCracken Field.
Home Field Advantage
? UCF is in its sixth season of play at Jay Bergman Field. The Golden Knights are 128-46 all-time at the friendly confines, including a 28-8 record in 2005.
Hit Me with Your Best Shot
? Ryan Bono is third in UCF career history after being hit by a pitch 41 times. Bono trails current volunteer assistant coach Rich Wallace by five for the school record.
? Wallace was hit by a pitch 46 times during his four-year career from 2000-03.
? Bono set a single-season school record after getting plunked 18 times in 2005.
On Deck
? UCF continues its 11-game homestand with a three-game weekend series vs. Monmouth March 3-5.