March 4, 2010
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The new Right-Field Deck opens this weekend when UCF hosts Central Michigan in a three-game set beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. Junior lefty Johnny Sedlock will make the start on the mound in game one.
Schedule:
Friday - Orlando, Fla. - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday - Orlando, Fla. - 4 p.m.
Sunday - Orlando, Fla. - 1 p.m.
Records:
Central Michigan - 1-2 Overall, 0-0 MAC
UCF - 7-2 Overall, 0-0 C-USA
Stadium:
Jay Bergman Field (2,230)
Series:
UCF leads, 7-0
Live Stats:
UCFAthletics.com
Live Video:
UCFAthletics.com
Radio
UCFAthletics.com and 740-AM (Friday only)
UCF Midweek Recap
-Windy conditions caused for a wild ride through the first few innings between UCF and Duquesne March 2. The Dukes jumped out to a 10-2 lead before the Knights plated six in the second, two in the third and two in the fifth for the 12-11 win.
-A day later and it was a similar story vs. North Florida where the Ospreys scored four in the first. Yet a three-run homer from Shane Brown and a two-run job by Jonathan Griffin quickly erased the deficit in the home half. But the UNF bullpen shut the door as it went on to a 13-6 win over the Knights.
Upcoming Opponent
-Central Michigan has only played three games this year, falling to California and Cal State-Bakersfield before defeating St. Mary's on the West Coast last weekend. The Chippewas will be playing games in the Orlando area all week until March 14.
-CMU went .206 at the plate in California, but righty Jake Sabol stole the show vs. St. Mary's, tossing a complete-game for a 3-1 victory.
The Series
-UCF and CMU first met in 1985, a 6-5 10-inning win for the Knights.
-The Black and Gold then claimed two victories in 1998, one in 2001 and swept a three-game series in 2008 to own a 7-0 lead over the Chippewas.
Right-Field Deck Opens March 5-7
-The Right-Field Deck debuts March 5-7 and will accommodate 100+ fans. Groups of 20 or more can reserve their spot on the deck starting at $100, which includes game tickets. All you can eat catering packages for groups start at $12 per person. Groups interested in renting the new deck should contact the Athletics Ticket Office at 407-823-1000 or via E-Mail at tickets@athletics.ucf.edu.
-When the deck is not rented for group outings, it will be open to all fans in the stadium and serve as a General Admission first come, first serve area with concessions available for purchase.
Adding Two More Bats and a Key Arm
-Three Knights who were sidelined to start 2010 made their debuts vs. Duquesne March 2.
-Two-way player D.J. Hicks started as the DH and added a double, RBI and a run.
-Second baseman Stephen Branca spent almost a year away from the lineup but returned to notch two hits with a RBI and a run.
-A projected starter to open the year, pitcher Alex Besaw inherited three runners in the second inning and promptly shut the door. He went 2.2 frames with no earned runs and four strikeouts.
Leading By Example
-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 .471 average, going 16-for-34 with 16 RBI, 11 runs, seven doubles and four 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.
We Were Only Freshmen
A look at UCF's instrumental freshmen so far in 2010:
-Not at the top of the depth chart when the season opened, Windermere's Chris Taladay has climbed quickly, going .455 at the plate with nine RBI and six runs.
-Winter Haven's Austin Johnston (2B/3B) filled in Opening Day due to an injury, and since then has proceeded to hit .400 with six doubles and eight runs.
-Eagle Lake's Ronnie Richardson holds down the leadoff spot, hitting .242 with 14 walks and four steals.
-Shortstop Darnell Sweeney out of Miramar also has four stolen bases along with five runs.
-Out of the pen, Winter Haven's Joe Rogers has struck out 12 in 6.0 scoreless innings with two saves as the UCF closer.
Beau Knows Clutch Hitting
-On an 11-game hitting streak dating back to 2009, Beau Taylor continues to step up. The catcher notched the game-winning RBI in the final two games of the Siena series, posting a walk-off single in the 12th inning Feb. 27 and a two-run homer Feb. 28.
-The sophomore already has three homers, which is just one shy of his season total from 2009.
-Taylor earned a spot on the 2010 Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award Watch List in early March, which is given to the nation's top catcher.