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Baseball Knight Fest: Jan. 30 Following Men's Basketball vs. Tulsa

Jan. 9, 2010

By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com

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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF baseball is inviting fans to come out to the ballpark Jan. 30 following the men's basketball game against Tulsa (tip-off at 5 p.m.) for the first edition of Baseball Knight Fest. This preseason event will allow Black and Gold supporters to meet the team as well as enjoy food and festivities under the lights of the baseball complex.

While the event is free to everyone, for just $5 a ticket fans will be able to grab a ballpark meal such as hamburgers, popcorn, cracker jacks and drinks, and be eligible to win exciting prizes given away by UCF players. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in advance by calling the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000, clicking on UCFAthletics.com, or by visiting the ticket window prior to UCF basketball games. They also will be available at the baseball ticket office on Jan. 30 starting at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Due to the 5 p.m. UCF men's basketball game vs. Tulsa, limited parking may be available in Garage F across from the ballpark. Additional parking is available in the grass lot directly behind the baseball scoreboard and also in the E8 surface lot off of Orion Blvd.

"I am looking forward to the first-annual Baseball Knight Fest," said head coach Terry Rooney. "I urge all fans to come out to the park, under the lights and meet the 2010 baseball Knights."

The gates at the baseball field will open towards the end of the Knights' clash on the hardwood vs. Tulsa. Fans will be able to sit down and eat dinner while also picking up the 2010 edition of the UCF baseball poster and schedule card. Players and coaches will be on hand to sign autographs as well.

Rooney and his team will then speak to the crowd from the field at 7:45 p.m., and after the players introduce themselves, they each will announce the winner of special prizes thanks to the UCF Marketing Office.

Among those players will be seniors Shane Brown and Chris Duffy, a pair of Orlando-area natives who have hit a combined 37 homers and driven in 206 runs in their careers. Lake Brantley High School's D.J. Hicks is back for his sophomore campaign after hitting .301 at the plate and earning four wins on the mound as a freshman. Rockledge's Beau Taylor, meanwhile, is coming off a year in which he was named a Freshman All-American as the Knights' catcher.

And with 21 newcomers, a group that was ranked as a top-10 recruiting class in the country by two different organizations, Baseball Knight Fest will be a great opportunity for fans hoping to get to meet this year's squad.

Season tickets for the 2010 campaign are already on sale. The Knights will play 36 games at home this year, and reserved chairbacks are just $199, while reserved bleachers seats are only $150. Faculty/staff, youth and senior season tickets are $99. To purchase tickets, call 407-823-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com.

Opening Day is slated for Friday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. against Savannah State. The three-game series with the Tigers begins a stretch where UCF plays its first 19 of 21 games at home, including contests against Miami and USF.

And for the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures, and become a follow of the Knights at Twitter.com.