March 3, 2008
ORLANDO - It will be a battle of unbeatens when the No. 25 UCF baseball team takes on Jacksonville in a home-and-home midweek series. The Dolphins invade Jay Bergman Field Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., while the Knights travel north to battle JU Wednesday, also at 6:30 p.m. Fans attending Tuesday's game are encouraged to park in Lot E8 due to an event at the UCF Arena.
Records:
Jacksonville - 6-0 Overall, 3-0 Atlantic Sun
No. 25 UCF - 7-0 Overall, 0-0 Conference USA
Stadium (Tuesday):
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series:
UCF leads, 32-30
Radio/Video: (Tuesday Only)
www.UCFAthletics.com
Live Stats:
www.UCFAthletics.com
Upcoming Opponent
Jacksonville kicked off its season with three victories in the JU Invitational, defeating UW-Milwaukee, Richmond and UNC-Wilmington. The Dolphins then swept Gardner-Webb in Atlantic Sun play last weekend to move out to a 6-0 record. JU is hitting .310 as a team, led by Kyle Fleming's .450 mark, and has pounded out seven homers. The pitching staff, meanwhile, holds a 3.00 ERA and has limited opposing batters to a .244 average.
The Series
UCF and Jacksonville faced off routinely when both were members of the Atlantic Sun, and the Knights will bring a slim 32-30 advantage over the Dolphins into this week's action. In their last meeting in 2005, the Black and Gold took two of three at Jay Bergman Field. The last time UCF traveled to Jacksonville, the Knights swept the Dolphins in 2004.
UCF vs. Central Michigan Recap
While the Knights had scored at least 10 runs in their first four games, they found themselves in a low-scoring affair in game one vs. Central Michigan Feb. 29. Picking up two unearned runs in the second inning, UCF added one in the third and one in the eighth as Jaager Good worked five scoreless innings to help the Black and Gold claim a 4-0 victory.
A wild contest broke out in game two, and the Knights somehow found a way to come out on top, 10-5. Up 5-0 after five, CMU used a grand slam to inch closer in the sixth, but its defense committed six errors and the Knights took advantage, scoring two in their half of the sixth and three in the eighth for the win.
To complete the sweep, UCF needed a two-out RBI single from Josh Siebenaler in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Chippewas, 4-3, in the series finale. Brian Griggs notched the win while Justin Weiss earned the save.
Climbing Up
UCF is ranked at No. 25 in the country in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top 30 Poll. It is the Knights' first ranking since No. 33 May 16, 2005, in the NCBWA Poll.
What a Way to Fill In
With first baseman Kiko Vazquez on the mend with an injury, sophomore Shane Brown has adjusted to the role at first nicely through seven games this year. As a freshman, Brown collected 12 RBI and four doubles in 38 games. So far in 2008, he has already posted four two-baggers while driving in 11 runs, five of which have been with two outs.
A Work of Art
After seven games in 2007, UCF had committed 20 errors and had a 2-5 record. But this season, the Knights have made just five miscues and are 7-0 overall.
Stylish First Impressions
Freshman Cody Allen struck out six in his first collegiate appearance vs. FAMU Feb. 23, then came on to notch the win against Central Michigan March 1. The righty fanned five more batters in 3.0 solid innings of work to start his career with 11 Ks in 6.0 innings.
Scoreless is Good
Jaager Good has worked 10.2 innings of scoreless ball in his two starts this year, racking up 16 strikeouts in the process. Dating back to last year and his 7.0 shutout innings in the C-USA Championship vs. Houston, Good now has a 17.2 scoreless inning streak still in tact.
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.