April 8, 2010
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Video Preview from Southern Miss
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF returns to Hattiesburg to face Southern Miss in a three-game Conference USA series beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Lefty Johnny Sedlock (1-2, 4.66) will receive the start in the opener, while righty Owen Dew (4-1, 4.69) is slated to start on Saturday.
Schedule:
Friday at Southern Miss - Hattiesburg, Miss. - 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday at Southern Miss - Hattiesburg, Miss. - 4 p.m. ET
Sunday at Southern Miss - Hattiesburg, Miss. - 12 p.m. ET
Records:
Southern Miss - 16-11 Overall, 1-2 Conference USA
UCF - 19-12 Overall, 2-4 C-USA
Stadium:
Pete Taylor Park (6,600)
Series:
USM leads, 13-3
Live Stats:
UCFAthletics.com
Live Video:
SouthernMiss.com
UCF vs. South Florida Recap
-UCF never trailed, but it was not until the eighth inning that the Knights put the game out of reach at South Florida April 6.
-Having put a runner in scoring position in each of the first eight innings, Shane Brown delivered three key RBI while Ronnie Richardson's two-run triple with two down in the eighth clinched the win.
-Brennan Dobbins, Nick Cicio and Matt Manning combined for 12 strikeouts and just two walks on the mound.
Upcoming Opponent
-Southern Miss has played just one C-USA series this year, also dropping two of three to UAB. After a 12-inning loss to LSU Wednesday, the Golden Eagles are 16-11 overall in 2010.
-B.A. Vollmuth and Adam Doleac are both hitting .400 on the season, with Vollmuth hammering out seven homers.
-On the mound, USM holds a 5.61 staff ERA, with Todd McInnis (2-0 vs. UCF) anchoring the rotation with a 2.42 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.
The Series
-Thanks to a three-game sweep in Orlando a year ago, Southern Miss owns a 13-3 lead in the all-time series.
-UCF's last victory over the Golden Eagles was a 15-4 triumph in Hattiesburg March 22, 2008.
The Way It Is
It does not matter what situation is presented to him. Shane Brown is getting the job done:
-Batting over .420 against righties and lefties
-.415 with runners on base
-.526 as the leadoff hitter
-.417 with two outs
-Advances runners 59 percent of the time
I'll Be There
-Senior Shane Brown already ranks in UCF's career top-10 in doubles, sac flies and HBP. But one more hit will put him in one of the most prestigious lists.
-Brown currently has 216 hits, which is one shy of tying Ryan Bono for 10th on the all-time hits chart.
Who Can It Be Now?
-A new, yet familiar face has been stepping up in the bullpen lately.
-Senior Matt Manning missed all of last season with an injury, but may have rediscovered his delivery. In his last four outings, the sidearmer has two saves in 6.2 scoreless innings, striking out seven and giving up just one hit.
Duff Man Just Wants to Have Fun
-Not many Knights have put together hitting streaks of 20 games or more since the program's inception in 1973.
-Entering 2010 only three players had ever accomplished the feat, but Chris Duffy joined that elite group this year
-UCF's longest hitting streaks:
1) 26 - Mike Myers - 4/3/01-5/19/01
2) 22 - Shane Brown - 3/4/09-4/7/09
3) 20 - Colin Arnold - 3/17/09-4/15/09
20 - Chris Duffy - 3/5/10-4/3/10
-Duffy opened the year on an eight-game streak, as the only time he has not registered a hit was against North Florida March 3.
-During the 20-game streak, Duffy went .481 with nine homers and 32 RBI.
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?
-Opposing pitchers are struggling to find holes in the UCF lineup.
-When head coach Terry Rooney fills out his lineup card, one of his combinations features all nine of his sticks carrying batting averages of at least .299.
-Five players have averages of .362 or better. In this situation, the only hitter under .300 is Ronnie Richardson who sits at .299, but the freshman was at the .225 mark on March 6, proving that he has been able to find his stroke at the plate in the last month.
-A detailed look at a recent UCF batting order (16-7 win vs. UAB April 2) with current stats:
*1) CF Ronnie Richardson - .299, 21 BB, 6 SB
2) 3B Derek Luciano - .362, 23 RBI, 23 R
3) RF Shane Brown - .443, 54 H, 27 RBI, 29 R
*4) DH Ryan Breen - .373, 14 RBI, 20 R, 12 2B
5) LF Chris Duffy - .458, 54 H, 13 HR, 48 RBI, 31 R
*6) 1B Chris Taladay - .376, 29 RBI, 27 R
*7) 2B Austin Johnston - .303, 11 RBI, 21 R, 9 2B
8) C Beau Taylor - .315, 17 RBI, 21 R
*9) SS Darnell Sweeney - .328, 17 RBI, 25 R, 11 SB
*-Freshman