March 15, 2010
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Coming off a record-breaking weekend vs. Hartford, UCF wraps up its 13-game homestand with a Tuesday clash against South Florida at 7:05 p.m. It will be the only time the Bulls meet the Knights in Orlando in 2010 as Bright House Sports Network will carry it live with David Baumann and 1988 Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola calling the action.
Schedule:
Tuesday vs. South Florida - Orlando, Fla. - 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday at Stetson - DeLand, Fla. - 6:30 p.m.
Updated notes for the Stetson game will be online late Tuesday/early Wednesday
Records:
South Florida - 4-12 Overall, 0-0 Big East
UCF - 9-7 Overall, 0-0 C-USA
Stadium:
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series:
USF leads, 54-50
Live Stats and Video:
UCFAthletics.com
Television
Live on Bright House Sports Network (David Baumann and Frank Viola on the call)
Radio
Tuesday - 740-AM and UCFAthletics.com
Tuesday's Festivities
-The first 500 fans receive a free reusable UCF grocery bag. And former UCF Knight Jim Horvath will throw out one of the first pitches. Horvath was the first UCF baseball player to turn pro in the late 70s.
UCF vs. Hartford Series Recap
-The Knights set a school record with 57 runs against Hartford March 13-14, the most runs vs. the same opponent in three-consecutive games (UCF had 59 runs vs. Grace College in 1985, but played Delaware once during that series).
-After dropping game one, UCF bounced back to score 10 in the first inning of game two, then plated 11 in the first inning of the series finale en route to a pair of victories.
-Chris Taladay went .786 at the plate with 11 hits, while Chris Duffy collected three homers and finished .727 at the dish in the series.
Upcoming Opponent
-South Florida has played a difficult schedule this year and brings a 4-12 record into Tuesday's contest.
-The Bulls have hit just eight homers this year, but have stolen 22 bases as a team.
-Senior lefty Teddy Kaufman is slated to get the start vs. UCF, and carries a 1-1 record with a 5.54 ERA. He started twice vs. the Knights in 2009 and earned a win in an 8.1-inning performance in Tampa April 29.
The Series
-USF holds a 54-50 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to UCF's first year in 1973.
C-USA Leaders
-Entering the week Chris Duffy ranks first in average, slugging, runs, hits, RBI, doubles and homers.
-Shane Brown and Chris Taladay rank second and third, respectively, behind Duffy in batting average. Brown also ranks second in RBI and first in HBP.
Home Plate Took a Beating vs. Hartford
-A total of 54 runs were scored between UCF and Hartford in a twin-bill March 13. The next day, the Knights took down the Hawks, 24-4, to tally 57 runs as a team in the series, marking the most runs scored in a consecutive three-game series in UCF history.
-UCF plated 10 in the first inning of game two alone, setting the school record for most runs in the first inning. That record would be broken in the finale where the Knights scored 11 times in the first inning.
-The 20-run victory March 14 tied for the ninth-largest win for UCF since its inception in 1973.
-The 24 runs in the finale were the most UCF scored in a non-conference game since a 24-2 win over Cleveland State in 1991.
-Meanwhile, UCF rapped out 28 hits in the 24-4 victory, tying the school record for most hits in a game (set last year at UAB).
-And the 46 combined runs by UCF in games two and three set the school mark for most runs in back-to-back games.
Take On Me
-Posting at least one hit in every game except one this year, Chris Duffy is enjoying the long ball in 2010.
-The senior left fielder crushed three in a doubleheader vs. Hartford March 13 to give him nine this year, which is already his career-high.
-Duffy paces all Conference USA hitters, while the NCAA has yet to release national leaders.
-With 31, Duffy stands at sixth in career dingers at UCF, and needs one to tie Jeremy Frost for fifth.
How `bout Some More on Duffy
-When the season began, senior Chris Duffy was looked upon as a veteran who needed to take charge of the team. He is certainly doing just that.
-The left fielder owns a .500 average, going 30-for-60 with 30 RBI, 19 runs, 11 doubles and nine homers.
-He notched three doubles vs. Duquesne March 2, which was one shy of the UCF record.
-Duffy also came within one of the school mark in both RBI (seven), total bases (12) and homers (two) vs. Savannah State Feb. 20.
-The senior would also have seven RBI in the 22-9 win over Hartford March 13.
Taladay Tallying Hits
-Hartford had issues retiring Chris Taladay, as the UCF freshman went 11-for-14 in the series March 13-14, scoring 10 runs and driving in five.
-This year, he is batting .457 with 10 extra-base hits, and has started at 3B, 1B and DH.
The Homers Keep Coming
-A year after setting a school record with 68 home runs, the Knights are sending them yard yet again.
-UCF has amassed 26 dingers this year, with a total of 10 different Knights putting one over the fence, including Chris Duffy who leads the way with nine.
Freshmen Everywhere!
UCF is consistently using several freshmen in the starting lineup this year, and they are all producing:
-DH/3B/1B Chris Taladay - .457, 2 HR, 15 RBI
-2B Austin Johnston - .304, 6 2B, 10 R
-SS Darnell Sweeney - .284, 12 R, 5 SB
-CF Ronnie Richardson - .245, 13 R, 17 BB, 4 SB
-DH/C Ryan Breen - .385, 3 RBI
-And on the mound, Brian Adkins will receive his third start Tuesday. His previous starts came against two nationally-ranked teams in Florida and Miami.