March 17, 2009
ORLANDO (UCFAthletics.com) - Sponsored by Holler-Classic Automotive, UCF wraps up its seven-game homestand with a Wednesday clash against No. 25 Florida at 6:30 p.m. The game with the Gators will air on Bright House Sports Network and be tape-delayed to 8 p.m., while it will be carried LIVE on CSS. Tom Morgan will handle play-by-play duties while former MLB pitcher Dennis Rasmussen will serve as the color analyst.
Schedule:
Wednesday vs. No. 25 Florida - Orlando, Fla. - 6:30 p.m.
Records:
Florida - 10-7 Overall, 0-3 SEC
UCF - 7-11 Overall, 0-0 C-USA
Stadium:
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series:
Florida leads UCF, 17-12
Live Stats:
UCFAthletics.com
Live Video:
UCFAthletics.com
Radio:
740-AM with Marc Daniels on the Call
Television:
Bright House Sports Network - Tape-Delay to 8 p.m.
CSS - Live
Play-by-Play - Tom Morgan
Color - Dennis Rasmussen
This Week's Festivities
-Little league members wearing their full uniform get in FREE with a full price adult
-UCF baseball trading card set No. 3 giveaway
-Crush the Gators placard giveaway
UCF vs. Army Recap
Army's Kyle Brueggemann went 7.0 solid innings giving up just one run as the Black Knights defeated UCF, 8-1, March 17. The Black and Gold, by design, used eight pitchers on the evening, while at the plate, Chadd Hartman and Austin Smith both posted two hits.
Upcoming Opponent
Coming off a ninth-inning home victory over Florida State March 17, Florida stands at 10-7 on the year and is 0-3 in the SEC after losing last weekend's league series to Arkansas. A total of six Gators who have made at least five starts boast averages above .300, while the arms have an impressive 3.90 team ERA.
The Series
UCF last met Florida in Gainesville during the 2007 season, and then-sophomore Kyle Sweat pitched 8.0 shutout innings and retired the last 10 batters he faced en route to a 6-2 victory. Dating back to when the two programs first did battle on the diamond in 1977, UF holds a 17-12 all-time lead in the series.
Leader of the Band
With his two-run homer in the first inning vs. Hartford March 15, senior Brandon Romans took over the Conference USA lead with five dingers. There are 10 players right behind him with four home runs, including UCF first baseman Kiko Vazquez. Romans' previous season-high was two round-trippers set last year. His performance so far helped him earn a spot on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, which is given annually to Division I's top catcher.
Everyday I Write the Book
Junior Shane Brown dominated pitching during the week of March 9-15, going 8-for-17 with a .471 average, and currently holds a career-long 10-game hitting streak. Keeping up with Brown, Brandon Romans' hitting streak reached eight games before it came to a close March 17, but the senior paces the Knights' offense with a .386 average.
Take On Me
The Winter Springs freshmen took over in the win over Northern Iowa March 14. Pitcher Bryan Brown cruised through the first three innings in his first start only to face trouble in the fourth. However the Knights remained leading when the inning was over, 6-5, as Anthony Figliolia came on and eventually went 3.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts for the win. At the plate, Jake Huxtable recorded his first homer in a three-RBI affair.
Shakin'
Senior Caleb Graham continuously left Hartford's bats off-balance March 14. The righty went 5.2 innings and matched a career-high with eight strikeouts, not earning a decision. The only runs Graham gave up were on a bloop two-run single in the third inning.