March 12, 2007
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ORLANDO - While most students have ventured off for spring break, the UCF baseball team stays right at home as it welcomes Army to Jay Bergman Field Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Golden Knights bring a five-game winning streak into the match-up with the Black Knights, as UCF starter Brett Bordwine will face-off against Army's Drew Clothier.
Records
Army - 5-6 Overall, 0-0 Patriot League
UCF - 11-9 Overall, 0-0 Conference USA
Stadium
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series
First Meeting
Radio
www.UCFAthletics.com
Live Stats
www.UCFAthletics.com
Tickets
UCF Ticket Office - (407) UCF-1000
Massachusetts at UCF Series Recap
Austin Hudson pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and no walks while striking out six to propel UCF to a 6-1 win over Massachusetts March 9. Chadd Hartman's sacrifice fly in the third gave the Knights a 1-0 lead and Kiko Vazquez put it away later in the inning with a three-run homer.
Mitch Houck went 7.0 innings and allowed just one run on three hits in a 5-2 victory over Massachusetts March 10. Houck struck out 10 batters to get the win, while Chris Duffy pounded out three hits to pace the offense.
UCF completed the sweep of UMass with a 7-1 victory in the finale. Jaager Good went 7.0 scoreless innings, limiting the Minutemen to just three hits for the win. Duffy and Eric Kallstrom each had two hits, with Duffy connecting for his first homer of the year.
This Week's Opponent
Army, predicted to win the Patriot League by Baseball America, stands at 5-6 on the season after winning three straight last week over UNC Greensboro, Georgetown and Eastern Kentucky. Junior southpaw, Drew Clothier, who is scheduled to take the hill against UCF, has a 1.40 ERA in seven games with two starts. In his first start, vs. Wofford Feb. 24, Clothier gave up two earned runs in 4.0 innings. He then went 7.0 in a win over UNCG, not allowing an earned run while striking out five.
At the plate, Cole White has been on a tear, going .462 with a .769 slugging percentage. The Black Knights have swiped 14 bases in 20 attempts this season, and have a .965 fielding percentage.
The Series
Tuesday marks the first meeting between UCF and Army. It also will be the only time this year the Golden Knights play a program from the state of New York. In all, UCF has won 13-consecutive games against a team from the Empire State, with its last loss coming in the first game of a doubleheader with Siena March 5, 2005.
Good n' Plenty
Junior righty Jaager Good, in just six appearances in 2007, has set career-highs this year with 27.1 innings pitched and 15 strikeouts. Good came out of the pen in the first game of the season, but has since made five starts for the Knights. He had his best game in a UCF uniform when he pitched 7.0 scoreless innings against UMass March 11), earning the win by giving up just three hits.
The UCF Power Combo, With a Side of RBI
Sophomore Kiko Vazquez and freshman Chris Duffy could not be contained during UCF's perfect 5-0 week from March 6-11. Vazquez went 7-for-14 (.500) with nine RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage, while also stealing his first career base. Duffy was 7-for-11 (.636) even though he sat out a game, and had a .909 slugging percentage. Each posted a home run, with Duffy's being his first collegiate dinger (vs. UMass, March 11).
Having Patience
Through the first seven games of the season, the Knights' offense had double-figure strikeouts four times. However, they have now gone 13-straight outings without reaching 10 or more.
A Houck Delight
Mitch Houck cruised through Massachusetts March 10, going 7.0 innings and limiting the Minutemen to one run on three hits to earn the win. The sophomore lefty struck out 10 batters, one shy of his career-high.
The Four Tops
Four strikeouts in an inning. It seems impossible, yet Mitch Houck accomplished that feat March 10 vs. Massachusetts. In the top of the third, the lefty struck out Mike Donato and got Travis Munsey to swing at strike three as well. But Munsey got aboard as the ball was in the dirt. After a balk, Ryan Franczek went down looking and Bill Ranking sat down on strikes to become Houck's fourth victim of the frame.
Massachusetts Does Not Touch the Hudson, Austin Hudson That Is
In anyone's first collegiate start, nerves could be a factor in a player's performance. For freshman Austin Hudson, he looked like a veteran on the hill against Massachusetts March 9. The righty struck out six in 6.0 innings of work to notch his first collegiate victory. Hudson allowed only four hits while not walking a single batter.
Opponents Not Liking the Kiko Puffs...
As a freshman last season, Kiko Vazquez completed the year with 21 RBI. So far in 2007, the first baseman has 22 RBI in just 20 games. He also has matched his home run total from a season ago (four).
...Nor the Weiss Krispies
Closer Justin Weiss has taken his new roll in stride this year. The sophomore made just four appearances last season, but already has seen time in seven games with four saves in 2007. Weiss has not given up an earned run in six of seven showings on the mound, and with two more saves, he will crack the top 10 on UCF's single-season list.
All `Bord, and Bring the Wine
While making just two appearances before earning his first start of the year against Northeastern March 7, Brett Bordwine turned in one of his best games of his career. The righty easily set a career-high with 14 strikeouts and matched his longest outing by pitching 6.2 scoreless innings. Bordwine gave up two walks to open the game, but those were the only free passes he issued in the game, as at one point, he fanned six-straight batters on strikes.
Tying a Couple of Marks
Thanks to Brett Bordwine and Eric English combining to strike out 18 batters against Northeastern March 7, Brandon Romans was a huge beneficiary. The UCF catcher tied a school record with 18 putouts in the game, a mark that had only been accomplished three times before the win over the Huskies. The 18 Ks also tied a school record for most in a game by UCF pitchers, which has now been done five different times, twice by multiple hurlers and three times by just one pitcher.
In Cars
Freshman Carmine Giardina earned his second start of the season March 6 against Michigan State, and demonstrated why he was one of the top southpaws out of high school. The native of Valrico, Fla., went 6.0 innings vs. the Spartans, allowing just one run on three hits and struck out 10. His effort was good enough to secure his first-collegiate victory on the mound.
Let's Talk About Leadoff Production
The leadoff man can be a critical piece to a team's success, and Tyson Auer proved that when UCF met Michigan State March 6. The center fielder walked four times and stole four bases in the 7-5 victory. Auer also came around to score once and had a RBI. His four steals was the first time since 2005 that a Golden Knights collected four in a game.
Taking on Northeastern March 7, the top three batters in the lineup, Auer, Chadd Hartman and Kiko Vazquez, combined for six hits, three runs scored and three RBI to defeat the Huskies, 5-2.
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 first in both categories with 37 steals in 47 tries. Individually, Tyson Auer leads the way with 11 swipes, while Dwayne Bailey is not too far behind with eight.