May 22, 2011
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - As UCF purposefully walked out of the dugout after sweeping UAB May 15, there was a sense of relief. There still was difficult work to do in the upcoming week vs. Stetson and Marshall, however that weekend in Birmingham even had head coach Terry Rooney heading to the airport with a smile on his face.
Following its 8-1 triumph over MEAC regular-season champion Bethune-Cookman May 11, the Knights resumed their Conference USA schedule looking to quickly build on their 7-11 league record. Meanwhile, UAB was 9-12 and also itching to climb the standings. A series loss for the Black and Gold would not only have put itself closer to the bottom of C-USA, it also would dampen its hopes of a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
And then Beau Taylor picked up a bat.
Going hitless in his first four plate appearances of the series opener with the Blazers, the junior catcher gracefully launched the first pitch of the ninth inning of a 3-3 ballgame over the fence in right-center. Just for good measure, Jonathan Griffin blasted a solo shot to left and the Knights had their first victory of the series.
In game two, everybody chipped in one of the weirdest games of the season. Deadlocked at 0-0 in the 10th inning, UAB went to the bullpen for the first time and Erik Hempe started a nine-run frame by doubling to left field. Eventually with the bases jammed, Ronnie Richardson fired a two-run single to center and the inning would be capped off by Hempe as he punished a grand slam to left.
With the series already in hand, UCF run-ruled the Blazers in the finale, 18-6. That 10-11 C-USA record now looked quite comfortable, especially since the Knights were now ensured a spot in the C-USA Championship presented by Trustmark.
As the Knights were getting exceptional pitching performances and clutch hits as well as playing flawless ball defensively, they used that momentum to defeat No. 21 Stetson May 17 and took two of three from a feisty Marshall squad to close the regular season 36-20 on the year and 12-12 in the league.
Posting its highest finish since joining C-USA in 2006, UCF earned the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 Memphis in the event's first game Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET in Pearl, Miss.
Boasting an RPI of No. 18, the Knights are considered to be destined for the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2004, a goal that has been emphasized the minute Rooney stepped foot on campus in the summer of 2008. Only that is not what is on the mind of the program right now. With so many pieces clicking at the right time, UCF is determined to make a run for its first conference tournament title since 2002 (Atlantic Sun).
Along with UCF's first opponent, Memphis, here is a quick peek at the C-USA schedule and field. UCF also is joined by No. 1 Rice and No. 8 UAB in the first pool.
C-USA Championship presented by Trustmark
May 25-29, 2011 - Pearl, Miss.
All Times Eastern
Day 1 - Wednesday, May 25
No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 4 UCF - 10 a.m.
No. 8 UAB vs. No. 1 Rice - 1:30 p.m.
No. 6 Houston vs. No. 3 East Carolina - 5 p.m.
No. 7 Tulane vs. No. 2 Southern Miss - 8:30 p.m.
Day 2 - Thursday, May 26 - All Games Televised by CSS/Bright House Sports Network
No. 4 UCF vs. No. 8 UAB - 10 a.m.
No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 1 Rice - 1:30 p.m.
No. 7 Tulane vs. No. 3 East Carolina - 5 p.m.
No. 6 Houston vs. No. 2 Southern Miss - 8:30 p.m.
Day 3 - Friday, May 27
No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 8 UAB - 10 a.m.
No. 4 UCF vs. No. 1 Rice - 1:30 p.m.
No. 6 Houston vs. No. 7 Tulane - 5 p.m.
No. 3 East Carolina vs. No. 2 Southern Miss - 8:30 p.m.
Day 4 - Saturday, May 28 - Televised by CBS Sports Network
Championship Game - 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 29 is a Rain Date
The Field
No. 1 Rice - RPI No. 10
Record: 16-8 C-USA, 38-18 Overall
Record in May: 10-2
Batting Average: .282
Top Hitter: Anthony Rendon - .323, 17 2B, 5 HR, .516 SLG, .526 OBP
ERA: 3.18
Top Starting Pitcher: Austin Kubitza - 1.85, 6-3, 87.2 IP, 90 K
Against UCF in 2011: L 7-2, W 6-2, L 5-4 in Houston
No. 2 Southern Miss - RPI No. 16
Record: 16-8 C-USA, 38-15 Overall
Record in May: 6-5
Batting Average: .305
Top Hitter: Tyler Koelling - .367, 18 2B, 4 HR, 46 RBI, 15 BB, 9 K
ERA: 3.48
Top Starting Pitcher: Todd McInnis - 2.79, 7-2, 80.2 IP, 73 K
Against UCF in 2011: W 6-5, W 13-2, W 5-2 in Orlando
No. 3 East Carolina - RPI No. 30
Record: 14-10 C-USA, 37-18 Overall
Record in May: 10-2
Batting Average: .299
Top Hitter: Trent Whitehead - .333, 20 2B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 43 R, 14 SB
ERA: 2.57
Top Starting Pitcher: Seth Maness - 2.07, 8-3, 87.0 IP, 67 K
Against UCF in 2011: W 12-6, L 3-2, W 5-3 in Greenville
No. 4 UCF - RPI No. 18
Record: 12-12 C-USA, 36-20 Overall
Record in May: 9-4
Batting Average: .304
Top Hitter: D.J. Hicks - .338, 11 2B, 13 HR, 59 RBI, .583 SLG, .424 OBP
ERA: 4.10
Top Starting Pitcher: Brian Adkins - 3.92, 6-4, 78.0 IP, 40 K
No. 5 Memphis - RPI No. 112
Record: 12-12 C-USA, 29-25 Overall
Record in May: 4-6
Batting Average: .306
Top Hitter: Chad Zurcher - .455, 18 2B, 0 HR, 33 RBI, 45 R, .571 SLG, .560 OBP
ERA: 4.99
Top Starting Pitcher: Dan Langfield - 4.31, 3-3, 79.1 IP, 89 K
Against UCF in 2011: L 5-4 (10), L 11-9, W 12-7 in Memphis
No. 6 Houston - RPI No. 59
Record: 12-12 C-USA, 25-30 Overall
Record in May: 4-7
Batting Average: .284
Top Hitter: Ryan Still - .322, 3 2B, 0 HR, 43 R, .474 OBP
ERA: 4.58
Top Starting Pitcher: Jordan Lewis - 3.70, 5-3, 80.1 IP, 53 K
Against UCF in 2011: L 6-4, W 5-0, W 5-3 in Orlando
No. 7 Tulane - RPI No. 65
Record: 10-14 C-USA, 30-24 Overall
Record in May: 4-7
Batting Average: .259
Top Hitter: Jeremy Schaffer - .352, 23 2B, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 44 R, .578 SLG, .456 OBP
ERA: 4.29
Top Starting Pitcher: Conrad Flynn - 3.83, 3-6, 89.1 IP, 66 K
Against UCF in 2011: W 10-8, W 6-5, L 8-7 in Orlando
No. 8 UAB - RPI No. 62
Record: 9-15 C-USA, 28-26 Overall
Record in May: 4-7
Batting Average: .266
Top Hitter: Jamal Austin - .350, 8 2B, 0 HR, 28 RBI, 35 R, 25 SB
ERA: 4.24
Top Starting Pitcher: Dillon Napoleon - 2.69, 5-2, 77.0 IP, 51 K (Ryan Wooley - 2.98, went 9.0 shutout innings vs. UCF)
Against UCF in 2011: L 5-3, L 9-0 (10), L 18-6 in Birmingham