Feb. 28, 2008
ORLANDO - The energy surrounding the UCF baseball team is still in the air after the Knights opened the season with a 4-0 record, and they will try to ride their momentum into this weekend's series vs. Central Michigan at Jay Bergman Field. Game one's first pitch is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Records:
Central Michigan - 1-3 Overall, 0-0 MAC
UCF - 4-0 Overall, 0-0 Conference USA
Stadium:
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series:
UCF leads, 4-0
Radio/Video:
www.UCFAthletics.com (Saturday's radio broadcast on 740-AM)
Live Stats:
www.UCFAthletics.com
Upcoming Opponent
Although it opened the season with a 1-3 record, all four games Central Michigan took part in were very competitive, dropping a 12-8 decision to Southern Utah and suffering two losses in a three-game set against UNLV, 6-5 in 12 innings and 9-7. CMU did collect a 3-2 win in game two of the series, as Steve Teno went the distance on the mound, striking out four for the victory. Billy Anderson (.474) and Tyler Stovall (.444) each hit over .400 on opening weekend and they both had two stolen bases as well.
The Series
Central Michigan took part in the inaugural season of Jay Bergman Field in 2001, and that was the last time the two programs met (UCF won, 9-3). The Knights also claimed a 1998 doubleheader by a combined 14-7 margin and a 6-5, 10-inning affair in 1985 for a 4-0 all-time series advantage over the Chippewas.
UCF vs. Missouri Recap
Playing under a "curfew" since both teams agreed to not start an inning after 5:50 p.m. due to Missouri's travel arrangements, UCF hosted the No. 5 Tigers to The Berg on a Monday afternoon and every inning proved to be intense. After Mizzou took a 9-5 lead in the top of the seventh and final inning, UCF stormed back with five runs, all without recording an out, to seal the upset 10-9 victory.
How it Played Out
Chris Duffy's two home runs, including the first of back-to-back shots along with Ryan Richardson in the fourth inning, helped UCF remain close with No. 5 Missouri Feb. 25. Even though Mizzou scored four in the final inning, here is how the Knights climbed back for the memorable seven-inning victory:
Josh Siebenaler Single (0-0), Dwayne Bailey Double (2-1), Tyson Auer Walk (3-0), Pitching Change, Colin Arnold RBI Single (2-1), Shane Brown 2 RBI Single (2-2), Nick Choto Pinch-Ran for Brown, Chris Duffy RBI Single (0-1), Ryan Richardson RBI Double (2-1) - UCF wins 10-9
Never Down and Out
The five-run inning in its last at-bat against No. 5 Missouri sparked memories of UCF's amazing comeback vs. Southern Miss April 6, 2007. Trailing 4-1 with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth, Tyson Auer eventually notched an infield single with the bases loaded and all three runners scored when the second baseman, Bailey Hartel, threw the ball away. The Knights then won it in the 10th on a RBI single from D.J. Bissell.
Recent Wins Over Ranked Teams
UCF's win over No. 5 Missouri was the first vs. a top-10 program since a 6-5 victory against No. 2 LSU Feb. 15, 2004, at Jay Bergman Field. In 2007, UCF posted three victories over ranked programs: No. 15 TCU, No. 17 Florida and No. 28 Stetson.
Cannot Get Enough Duff
Opposing pitchers are learning how dangerous Chris Duffy can be at the plate. After the third baseman had five hits in the final two games of the FAMU series, Duffy got the offense going vs. No. 5 Missouri, crushing a two-run homer to center in the second inning, lining a solo job down the right-field line in the fourth and adding a RBI single in the deciding seventh inning for a 3-for-4 affair with four RBI.
A First for Everything
With 50 runs in the series vs. Florida A&M, UCF set a program record for runs in a three-game series. The previous mark was 47 vs. St. Joseph's March 3-5, 2001. The Knights did defeat Grace in three games by a combined score of 59-10 in 1985, however it was not a consecutive series since UCF played Delaware after game one vs. Grace. Meanwhile, with a 17-1 win on opening day vs. Florida A&M Feb. 22, UCF set a program mark for most runs in a season-opener.
Senior Starting Strong
Dwayne Bailey could not have opened his senior year any better than his performance vs. Florida A&M Feb. 22-24. Bailey fell just one hit shy of matching the school record for hits in a game when he went 5-for-5 in the opener. His five hits set a career-high, while he also posted a personal-best with four runs scored. Bailey eventually finished the weekend by going 10-for-15 with three extra-base hits, a .933 slugging percentage, a sacrifice hit and three stolen bases, enabling him to earn C-USA Hitter of the Week honors.