April 5, 2007
ORLANDO - Southern Miss makes its first-ever trip to Jay Bergman Field this weekend when UCF hosts the Golden Eagles for a three-game Conference USA set Friday-Sunday. The Knights will not return to Orlando until April 24 vs. USF, and have just eight more home games left after playing 25 of their first 28 contests of 2007 on their own campus.
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Records
Southern Miss - 18-12, 1-5 Conference USA
UCF - 16-17 Overall, 0-6 Conference USA
Stadium
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series
Southern Miss leads, 5-1
Radio
740-AM The Team - www.UCFAthletics.com - Marc Daniels, Play-By-Play
Live Stats
www.UCFAthletics.com
Tickets
(407) UCF-1000
Going Yard with CSTV
Friday's UCF baseball game vs. Southern Miss will be part of CSTV's journey across the country, as it will be at Jay Bergman Field to check out what UCF baseball is all about. They will focus on players, fans, operations and what makes a Golden Knight baseball game such a special event.
This Weekend's Opponent
Southern Miss (18-12) opened the season on a seven-game winning streak and was consistently in the national rankings before it went on a six-game losing skid March 24. After defeating then-No. 7 Rice to begin league play, the Golden Eagles dropped five straight C-USA games and six contests overall. However, they are coming off a 13-5 win over Nicholls State April 3. Southern Miss and UCF have had one common opponent this season, and both went 1-2 at LSU.
So far in 2007, the Golden Eagles have had the same three starting pitchers during weekend action, and will be going back to them against UCF. Ryan Belanger (5-2, 2.57 ERA) will get the nod Friday, Barry Bowden (1-3, 4.58 ERA) starts Saturday and David Clark (3-2, 5.58 ERA) finishes the series Sunday. At the plate, Trey Sutton (.355) leads an offense that has a .280 team average.
The Series
After a 14-1 victory in game one of a three-game showdown at Southern Miss in 1988, UCF has dropped five-straight decisions to trail in the all-time series, 5-1. The Golden Eagles swept the Knights last year in Hattiesburg, Miss., by a combined score of 31-6.
UCF at USF Recap - April 3
Tyson Auer, Kiko Vazquez, Ryan Richardson and Shane Brown each posted at least two hits apiece April 3, but USF used a five-run fourth and a six-run seventh to defeat UCF 11-4 in Tampa. The Knights used six different pitchers in the loss, and they combined to strike out 11 batters.
UCF at UAB Series Recap - March 30-31
Although UCF was swept for the second-straight C-USA series, the Knights had many players who shined against the Blazers. Ryan Richardson went a combined 7-for-10 with four RBI, including four base hits in the finale, and Matt Horwath pounded out three hits in the second game. On the mound, Brian Brooks was solid in relief in the final game of the weekend, pitching 5.0 innings of scoreless ball and gave up just three hits.
Field of Dreams Information
There are only four open dates left for little league players to join the UCF baseball team for starting lineups and the National Anthem at Jay Bergman Field in 2007. Each kid also receives an autographed piece of memorabilia from the team. For more information, teams can contact the UCF Sports Marketing Office at (407) 823-6165.
Listen While Enjoying that Bowl of Rice
UCF and ISP Sports announced the addition of three games to the 2007 broadcast schedule. The Knights' three-game series at Rice will now be available with the last two contests featured on 740-AM The Team. Fans will have access to all three outings at www.UCFAthletics.com.
Big & Rich
UCF's right fielder could not be contained at UAB March 30-31. Ryan Richardson finished the series 7-for-10 (.700) with four RBI and three runs scored. He also had three doubles, three walks and a stolen base. Richardson concluded the weekend with a 4-for-4 performance and scored three runs.
Richardson also started a string of 10-consecutive plate appearances in which he reached base, which started in the first game of the UAB doubleheader March 31 and came to a close at USF April 3. The following is a run-down of his impressive streak:
No. 1 - Walk - Fourth inning - at UAB-1
No. 2 - Walk - Sixth inning - at UAB-1
No. 3 - Single - Eighth inning - at UAB-1
No. 4 - Single - Second inning - at UAB-2
No. 5 - Single - Fourth inning - at UAB-2
No. 6 - Double - Fifth inning - at UAB-2
No. 7 - Double - Eighth inning - at UAB-2
No. 8 - Walk - Ninth inninig - at UAB-2
No. 9 - Single - Second inning - at USF
No. 10 - Single - Fourth inning - at USF
Walk the Line
Typically, hitters will have more strikeouts than walks. However, first baseman Kiko Vazquez has reversed that trend by posting 20 walks compared to 10 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Vazquez also has been plunked by a pitch seven times.
That Looks Like a Good Ratio, But I was Asleep in Math Class, What Does That Mean?
Three Knight pitchers have a strikeout-to-walk ratio of over 2.0. Justin Weiss leads the way as for every 4.7 strikeouts, he issues just one walk. Austin Hudson follows with a 3.2 ratio, while Jaager Good sits at 2.2.
The Thrills of Mills
After seeing time in just one game before the UAB series March 30-31, freshman Kyle Mills appeared in all three contests with the Blazers and earned his first two collegiate starts. The second baseman notched a base hit in both games of a doubleheader March 31, and had two RBI and a run scored in the series finale.
The Magic Number
Matt Horwath reached an important milestone against UAB March 30. The senior came in as a pinch-hitter and cranked out a double to left center, which was his 100th career base hit (20 came while he was with LSU). Horwath became the second Golden Knight to reach the illustrious mark this season (Tyson Auer).
Horwath's double was in the middle of a string of three-straight doubles he recorded in as many at-bats. His 99th career base hit was a two-bagger in his only at-bat vs. Houston March 25, and after hit No. 100 March 30, Horwath banged a double on the first pitch of game one of a doubleheader March 31 vs. UAB.