973783973783

UCF Baseball Makes Quick Trip to DeLand to Face Stetson Today at 7 p.m.

March 27, 2007

Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

ORLANDO - Now that UCF has reached the half-way point of the 2007 season, it begins a five-game road swing beginning Tuesday at Stetson at 7 p.m. It will be the first of two trips to DeLand in 2007, as the Knights make the quick journey once again May 8.

Records
Stetson - 20-8 Overall, 4-2 Atlantic Sun
UCF - 14-13 Overall, 0-3 Conference USA
Stadium
Melching Field at Conrad Park (2,500)
Series
UCF leads, 59-45
Radio
740-AM The Team and www.UCFAthletics.com
Live Stats
www.UCFAthletics.com

This Week's Opponent
Stetson has flirted with the national rankings this season as it brings a 20-8 mark into Tuesday's contest with UCF. Earlier in the year, the Hatters took two of three vs. LSU, Southern Illinois, Louisville, Central Michigan, North Florida and Mercer. They also have posted victories over USF, Michigan State and Notre Dame.

So far, Stetson has formed a complete team, posting a .309 batting average, 3.48 ERA and .962 fielding percentage through 28 games. Five starters own averages well over .300, while Tuesday's starter, Robby Donovan, has a 1.78 ERA in eight appearances (two starts).

The Series
In a rivalry that has featured 104 games, UCF's most against a single opponent, the Knights own a 59-45 advantage over Stetson. The series started in 1975, and last year the Hatters claimed both games, including a 4-3 victory in DeLand March 7.

Harvard at UCF Recap
UCF may have fallen behind in the second inning vs. Harvard March 26, 1-0, but two runs in the fifth and four in the sixth lifted the Knights to a 7-3 win. Starter Kyle Sweat pitched 8.0 innings, striking out six and giving up only six hits. Chris Duffy had three RBI while Chadd Hartman finished with a career-high three hits.

Houston at UCF Series Recap
In the C-USA opener for both teams, Houston jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first and it was too much for UCF to overcome as the Cougars walked away with a 10-2 victory. Eric Kallstrom racked up two hits for the Knights, while Kyle Maulbetsch pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of relief.

Freshman lefty Wes Musick pitched 8.0 scoreless innings to help shut out UCF, 3-0, March 24. The hurler threw 120 pitches, the most by a Knight opponent this season, and limited the Black and Gold to five hits. Shane Brown led the UCF offense with two hits.

To finish the sweep over the Knights, Houston built a 5-0 lead March 25, then used a two-run homer in the eighth to claim a 7-2 victory. Kiko Vazquez cranked out three hits, while Chadd Hartman finished with two hits and a RBI.

Reaching 100
In 2006, UCF hurlers reached the 100-pitch mark just five times (three by Tim Bascom, and one by Mitch Houck and Mitch Herold). This season, the Knights have had their starters get to the 100 mark on six occasions already (twice by Mitch Houck and Jaager Good, and one by Brett Bordwine and Kyle Sweat). Even though pitchers have done it six times in 2007, the 2005 campaign saw it occur in 31 games, and in 27 games in 2004.

The Sweetness of Sweat
Sophomore righty Kyle Sweat pitched his best game in a UCF uniform March 26. Facing Harvard, the Apopka, Fla., native set career-highs with 8.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts en route to defeating the Crimson, 7-3. His outing was the longest by a UCF starter this year, as he surrendered only two runs on six hits and two walks.

The Chadd and Chris Show
Chadd Hartman and Chris Duffy formed a tag team vs. Harvard March 26, combining to go 4-for-7 with three RBI and four runs scored. Hartman's three hits set a personal-best, while he also added his first triple of the year. Duffy sealed the win in the sixth by lacing a three-run double down the left-field line.

Anyone Up For Some Kallstromboli?
Eric Kallstrom recorded a seven-game hitting streak March 11-24, which tied for the third-longest by a Golden Knights this year. Over this stretch, the short stop was 10-for-25 (.400) with five runs scored and five RBI.

Working the Abs
Senior hurler Derek Abriola continued to demonstrate how important to the UCF bullpen he has been throughout his career when he was brought in vs. Houston March 24. Even though the Knights lost 3-0, the righty set a personal-best of 5.2 innings pitched, striking out three and surrendering only one run on two hits. At one point, Abriola retired 12-straight batters. In all, he has made 53 career appearances, all in relief. Two more will move Abriola into a tie for sixth with Dominic Petracca on the UCF all-time list.

Back on the Airwaves
The voice of UCF athletics, Marc Daniels, and 740-AM The Team will be back in action calling UCF baseball games when the Knights travel to Stetson March 27. After another road game April 3 (at USF), Daniels and the crew will broadcast the remaining 11 home games, as well as three more road games during the regular season.