Feb. 26, 2007
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ORLANDO - The first weekday game of 2007 is on tap for the UCF baseball team, as it welcomes Michigan to Jay Bergman Field Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to "Jam the Jay" to take part in promotional activities during the game, while the first 250 students are invited to a tailgate party with free food available before the first pitch.
Records
Michigan - 3-0 Overall, 0-0 Big Ten
UCF - 4-7 Overall, 0-0 Conference USA
Stadium
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series
UCF leads, 7-5
Radio
740-AM The Team and www.UCFAthletics.com - Marc Daniels, Play-By-Play
Live Stats
www.UCFAthletics.com
Tickets
UCF Baseball Ticket Information
UCF at LSU Series Recap
The LSU series began eerily familar to the last TCU and Maryland weekends for UCF. The Knights committed five errors and the Tigers capitalized to score four unearned runs in a 4-1 victory Feb. 23.
UCF then took the lead for the first time since Feb. 11, but it could not hold on in a 13-6 loss at LSU Feb. 24. Eric Kallstrom completed the afternoon by recording a home run in his second-straight game.
The Knights avoided a sweep Feb. 25, scoring a run in the seventh and eighth innings for a 5-4 victory. The pitching staff did not give up an earned run, while Shane Brown delivered with an RBI double to give UCF the lead for good. Brown's hit allowed the Black and Gold to win for the first time ever at Alex Box Stadium (1-6).
At the conclusion of the LSU series, UCF finished playing in front of some of the biggest crowds in its history. The Tigers' paid attendance for the three games were 7,376, 7,082 and 7,399, with the latter believed to be the largest UCF has ever had to deal with for a road game (Actual attendance, however, was listed as 3,217 for the finale).
This Weekend's Opponent
Michigan kicked off its season last weekend vs. Bethune-Cookman in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and was able to come away with a 3-0 record. The Wolverines completed a perfect weekend with a 7-6, 13-inning marathon that lasted 4:47. As a team, Michigan went .324 at the plate and had a 2.61 ERA on the mound.
The Series
Although Michigan defeated UCF in last year's meeting, 6-3, the Golden Knights hold a 7-5 all-time advantage in the series. All 12 games have taken place in Orlando.
Solid on the Mound
Four pitchers combined in not allowing LSU to score an earned run Feb. 25 as UCF defeated the Tigers, 5-4. Jaager Good got the start and notched a career-high five strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. Matt McClung came on to sit down all six batters he faced en route to his first collegiate victory. Carmine Giardina recorded an out in the eighth inning, while Justin Weiss picked up the save by getting the final five outs.
Working the Bases
UCF ranked sixth in Conference USA in stolen bases and attempts (59 steals in 79 attempts) in 2006. This season, the Knights are second in both categoris with 15 steals in 20 tries. Individually, Dwayne Bailey and Tyson Auer both rank first with five stolen bases, while Ryan Richardson is right behind in a tie for fourth with three.
Trouble With Openers
UCF has yet to win a Friday or Saturday game (0-7) this season. However, the Knights are 4-0 in contests played on Sundays.
Sending Them Yard
Eric Kallstrom became the second Golden Knight this season to hit a home run in consecutive games (Kiko Vazquez - Feb. 17-18). The sophomore shortstop belted solo homers in the first two games of the LSU series (Feb. 23-24), giving him six for his career.
Just a Little More
Junior Tyson Auer and senior Matt Horwath are both approaching an important milestone in their respective careers. With 15 hits on the season, Auer needs just two more to reach the 100 mark as a UCF Golden Knight. Horwath, who recorded 20 hits with LSU from 2003-04, only needs four more base hits to get to the 100 plateau.
Exactly What They Needed
Allowing a combined 25 runs in two games can hurt a pitching staff. But the Knights were able to recover from the first two games against Maryland to post a 4-3 win in the final outing Feb. 18. Jaager Good became the first UCF starter to record a win, going 5.2 innings and surrendering three runs. Brian Brooks then struck out two in 1.1 innings of relief, while Austin Hudson and Justin Weiss each struck out two in their respective inning on the hill. Weiss picked up his first career save, and the three relievers did not give up a hit to the Terrapins.
A Weekend to Remember
Although UCF lost to Maryland 9-7 Feb. 17, Kiko Vazquez was unstoppable. The sophomore first baseman went 4-for-5 with a solo homer and a grand slam vs. the Terrapins. His four hits tied a career high, while his six RBI set a personal best. It also was Vazquez's first collegiate multi-home run game.
The next day, Vazquez homered in his first at-bat to help the Knights prevail in the series finale, 4-3. In all, he completed the weekend with six hits, seven RBI and three dingers. Also, Vazquez had almost as many round-trippers in a two-day stretch as he did as a freshman last year (four homers in 2006).
Brownie Bits
Freshman Shane Brown had his first big night at the plate, going 2-for-3 against Maryland Feb. 16. He came on as a pinch-hitter and eventually scored a run and connected for his first collegiate double.
Brown then got his first start at third base at LSU Feb. 25, and made the most of it. In the eighth inning, he delivered with an RBI double to plate the eventual winning run, lifting the Golden Knights to a 5-4 victory.
McDominating
Junior righty Matt McClung was brilliant out of the pen against TCU Feb. 9, setting a personal-high of 4.2 scoreless innings. He gave up just one hit in the process. McClung also shined vs. Maryland Feb. 17. The righty went 4.1 innings, striking out four and allowing just one earned run.
McClung continued his impressive string of outings at LSU Feb. 25. He was perfect in 2.0 innings of work, locking down his first collegiate victory.
Silver Anniversary
Head coach Jay Bergman is currently in his 25th season as skipper of the UCF baseball team. With a career record of 1,160-663-3, he needs just one victory to jump into a tie for 18th on the NCAA Division I coaching list for career wins.
Lengthy Battles
After a 2:49 affair in the season opener Feb. 3, the next six UCF games all went past the three-hour mark. The Golden Knights' longest game so far came against Maryland Feb. 16, a contest that lasted 3:31. The three-hour string ended when UCF played its shortest game since 2005 (2:04 - Belmont, April 17), a 2:05 contest vs. the Terrapins Feb. 18.