Feb. 11, 2011
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Part One - C
Part Two - 1B
Part Three - 2B
Part Four - SS
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Part five of UCFAthletics.com's season preview of the 2011 UCF baseball team takes a peek at the hot corner, and the coaching staff has a deep selection of third basemen this year.
Third Basemen
-So. Chris Taladay - Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-American, may sit out early due to an injury
-Sr. Derek Luciano - Hit .342 in 21 games, suffered from an injury throughout 2010 and has worked hard to make it back for Opening Day
-So. Austin Johnston - UCF's 2010 starting second baseman, made five starts at third as well
After working primarily as a catcher before his freshman season, Chris Taladay jumped to third base due to injuries early in 2010 and quickly found a home. Posting a .352 average with eight homers and 47 RBI, he earned C-USA Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American honors. An injury has limited Taladay during the preseason, though, and the coaching staff hopes to have him back as soon as possible.
Speaking of injuries, Derek Luciano was just as efficient as Taladay when he was in the lineup however he fell victim to the injury bug in 2010. When Luciano was seeing time on the field, he produced a .342 average in 21 games (17 starts at third base) with 23 RBI and 23 runs scored.
Austin Johnston may jump in at third base along with seeing action at second base. The sophomore was the every day second baseman last year and hit .266 and boasted a .961 fielding percentage. Johnston also made five starts at third base as a freshman.
Opening Day is quickly approaching, as the Black and Gold will host Siena Friday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in game one of a three-game weekend series. Season and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (407) 823-1000 or by visiting UCFAthletics.com's Tickets section.