April 9, 2009
ORLANDO (UCFAthletics.com) - Back home for UCF Hall of Fame Weekend, the Knights welcome Tulane to Orlando for a Conference USA series starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. Every game against the Green Wave will be broadcast on 740-AM with Marc Daniels calling the action.
Schedule:
Friday - Orlando, Fla. - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday - Orlando, Fla. - 4 p.m.
Sunday - Orlando, Fla. - 11 a.m.
Records:
Tulane - 17-15 Overall, 1-5 C-USA
UCF - 11-22 Overall, 2-7 C-USA
Stadium:
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series:
Tied, 7-7
Live Stats:
UCFAthletics.com
Live Video:
UCFAthletics.com
Radio
740-AM with Marc Daniels on the Call
UCF vs. Florida Recap
UCF ran into Florida's Preston Tucker in Gainesville April 8, who collected 11 RBI in a 16-3 UF victory. The Knights held a 3-1 lead in the fifth before Tucker belted out a two-out grand slam that gave the Gators the lead for good. Colin Arnold, D.J. Hicks and Beau Taylor each rapped out two hits in the loss.
Upcoming Opponent
Tulane might be 1-6 in its last seven outings, however three of those losses were at No. 2 Rice and its lone win came vs. No. 2 LSU. The Green Wave have scored the majority of their runs in the first three innings this year, and the offense carries a .291 average, led by Sam Honeck's .386 mark and C-USA leading 11 homers. The pitching staff has been very impressive, walking only 72 in 281.2 innings, as the staff has a 4.22 ERA.
The Series
Following two wins by the home team, UCF claimed last year's series finale in New Orleans, 12-1, to even the series at 7-7. Two seasons ago in Orlando, the Knights won two-straight one-run games before sweeping the Green Wave in game three, 8-4.
Never Too Much
Colin Arnold continues his trek up the UCF record book, as his current 16-game hitting streak ranks seventh all-time. The senior outfielder has hit .368 over that stretch with 16 runs and four doubles, while connecting for at least two hits in eight of those outings.
Hard Habit to Break
It lasted from March 4 to April 7. Over a month. And during that time, it was all Shane Brown. The junior went on a hitting streak that can compare to only one other Knight in UCF history. Brown posted a 22-game hitting streak, and had a .386 batting average in that span, to become just the second player to have a streak 20 games or longer. Mike Myers holds the school record with a 26-game streak in 2001.
Control
There is something about North Florida that suits Brennan Dobbins. After pitching a scoreless inning of relief vs. UNF April 1, he stepped back on the hill in Jacksonville April 7 and picked up where he left off. The sophomore hurler entered in the second inning and worked a career-high 6.0 innings without giving up an earned run and striking out four for the win.
Let Me Be the One
After just four appearances as a freshman, Justin Weiss quickly developed a sidearm delivery and it has paid off ever since. The senior has gone on to save 20 games the last three years, serving as one of just three pitchers in UCF history to post at least 20 saves in their careers. He currently trails Brian Huie for second all-time at 21.
Never Surrender
The Knights had just five hits through 8.2 innings at Memphis April 5 and trailed 3-0 as Tiger starter Brach Davis shut down the UCF offense. But facing the bullpen in the ninth inning, the Black and Gold did not give up. Setting up one of the most improbable victories in school history, here's a look back at that memorable ninth:
Facing right-handed reliever Duke Williams
Brandon Romans flied out to right (0-2)
Beau Taylor popped foul to third base (1-1)
Kiko Vazquez homered to deep left (2-0)
D.J. Hicks walked (3-0)
Facing right-handed reliever Matt Yokley
Chris Duffy homered to deep right (3-1)
Pinch-hitter Chadd Hartman singled to left (1-0)
Colin Arnold homered to right (2-2)
UCF wins 5-3 as D.J. Hicks blanked Memphis' bats in
the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings
The Finer Things
Lovely random notes from the win at Memphis April 5:
- The three ninth-inning homers marked the first time since April 15, 2006, at No. 23 Tulane that the Knights crushed three dingers in the same inning.
- With the victory, UCF claimed its first Conference USA road series since its first-ever C-USA match-up at Marshall in 2006.
- Colin Arnold's homer in the ninth not only pushed UCF into the lead, it also moved his hitting streak to 14 games.
- UCF's five hits in the ninth tied the school's all-time record for most hits in a ninth inning.